DallasSleeve

Ha! Thanks! I recommend keeping the surgery too...I'm not sure how long I was truly having gallstone pain but thinking it was sleeve-related from over eating or eating too fast. One day out of the blue, I felt a pain like no other and that led to a ER visit and 7 day hospital stay. My gallstones blocked my bile duct and it turned into pancreatitis which is quite serious. They kept me in the hospital until I was well enough to get the gallbladder out. I now try to warn other people who get the sleeve about this because it is considered a complication (that I didn't know about!) since we are eating such high amounts of Protein. Glad they got it figured out! Hope all goes well for you- the gallbladder surgery was easy, it was the 6 days leading up to it when I was in such pain from the pancreatitis that were horrible!

Have you checked for gallstones? It's more common that you think after this surgery and my pain started in my upper abdomen around 10 months and then became unbearable until I got my gallbladder out. HTH!

I remember being a few weeks away from surgery just one year ago and really wondering if I was doing the right thing. I was constantly looking at before and after pictures on here and wondering if I could really do it. I had NO IDEA how big I was and still cannot believe it when I see it in pictures today. I am so happy I had this surgery and am constantly motivated by this forum so I thought I would share! My first picture is what I use as my before (even though it was really about 3 weeks after surgery) but I always avoided the camera so I do not really have any "posed" pictures of me before. The second one is around the 6 month mark and the last one was a few weeks ago at Easter (pants were baggy and a little big). I am at my surgeon's goal (a little under actually) and am 2 lbs away from the goal I set for myself. I fluctuate about 2-3 pounds a week and I don't freak out! I feel healthy, have tons of energy and wish I had done the surgery sooner!

Haha! I have always been a twice a month pedi girl! They even complimented my toes when I went in for surgery!

As someone who had my sleeve done last summer, June 10, I would actually tell you to wait. While I usually believe you should just do it because you will be sad you waited, traveling was a HUGE PAIN last summer for me! I traveled at 4 weeks out and 8 weeks out and was miserable both times (nauseous and dehydrated, plus it was hard to find things to eat). It's not like you are waiting because you want to be able to eat more, I just think those first few weeks are tough enough without throwing in traveling. I have lost about 120 pounds since last June- the weight will come off and then you can get to traveling and living life to the fullest next summer! I leave for Cancun in a week and am so excited!

I've told my closest friends and family about my surgery…not really trying to keep it a secret but also don't feel like it's anyone else's business. When co-workers or acquaintances asked how I've lost so much weight I've always answered that I'm eating less. It's true and It usually stops any further questions!

CAll your dr and get a prescription for zofran! I spent my first 6 weeks in misery from the nausea (I told my dr about it, but he didn't know I had not taken the zofran home from hospital and I didn't know I was supposed to- major miscommunication) and I did not get my Protein or Water goals in at all! Soon as I started taking something, I felt amazing!

I was just about to post this! I was actually diagnosed with PTC in 2007 while losing 65 lbs because of the horrible headaches and worsening vision. I had an optic nerve decompression in 2008 and then I went into "remission" when I got pregnant in 2009 and haven't really had any problems since. I am 3 months out from my sleeve surgery and my horrible headaches are back! And, as of right now my surgeon has me on no pills, just liquid tylenol. I'm freaking out a little, because it took several pills to manage my pain level when my headaches were bad. I have a follow-up with my surgeon in 2 weeks, then I plan on making some follow-ups with my neurologist to hopefully get this under control!

I was not able to really eat anything (except yogurt and over easy eggs) for almost 8 weeks- it's different for everyone, but just because you are cleared for pureed/soft foods doesn't mean they will go down easy. If it doesn't go well the first time, try again the next week. I literally woke up at 8 weeks able to eat pretty much anything and MUCH more of it- I can't decide if that's a good thing or a bad thing

What are some of your go-to foods? I'm about 10 weeks out and everything I've started to eat today has just turned me off- not in a sick to the stomach way but in a blah, I don't want that way. I am going to drink my nightly protein shake but I still fell really short of my protein goal today. Ideas?

Really bored this morning and I read through this whole thing! And I'm happy (and depressed) to see y'all talking about my favorite neighborhood donut shop- The Hole Thing! It's right around the corner and it was definitely a place you'd see me a few times a week. Now, I just follow them on fb and drool over the pictures! Here's the link since I can't figure out how to post a picture! https://www.facebook.com/TheHoleThingDonutShop

Thanks! I'm going to head out for some BEEF jerky! I'm not brave enough to try the other animals, yet!

I think it depends on where you're going and what you're doing- About 3 weeks post-op I went to Chicago with my husband on business. They were having beautiful weather and we really had no formal plans. I was able to relax during the day while he worked and then we went sight-seeing in the late afternoons and evenings. I had no problems (other than being extremely jealous of all the great foods he was eating- I was still on liquids). Then 6 weeks out, I went to San Antonio on a family vacation. It was pretty bad! The heat index was 107-110, so I could not stay hydrated which meant I did not participate in all the fun stuff. Because I was so dehydrated and drinking constantly, I was nauseous and never hungry so I got in almost no Protein. It was really tough! So I would say, if you are expecting to do something really physical, I would re-schedule. If you can relax and take it easy then go and have fun!

I cut the bites of my meatball in dime-sized pieces and was able to eat the whole meatball (minus one tiny piece). Tuesday, I could only eat 1/2 of one, so maybe the slightly bigger bites work for me.

I'm 9 weeks out- I'm wondering how many of you pre-cut your food into tiny pieces (and how tiny) or if you just take small bites? I feel like when I cut up my food, it gets cold too fast/kind of dries out and becomes un-appetizing. I am still eating less than an ounce at a time so of course I'm still struggling with my Protein goals! When were you able to just bite into food?

Maybe my bites are too small? I'm cutting them into mini-M&M size...and then my plate looks so full and I just feel like I'll never eat all of it! I'm going to try cutting my bites a little bigger and see if I can get more Protein in. Thanks!

I would call just to be sure. They might want to change something or move your appt.

Mine felt like that too from weeks 3-5 and I think it was just acid. TMI- but if I made myself burp over and over, it would go away for a few minutes. It was very uncomfortable and my dr was even thinking I might have had a stricture, then one day I woke up and it was gone! My dr (and some people on this board) suggested prilosec and that might have helped too.

I asked the same thing- My nut said it may be hard to digest because it is so fibrous. I am cleared for all foods yet, but I am still staying away from the fibrous foods (kind of scared!)

I am 6 weeks out and I cannot eat one oz yet- I think I have a super small sleeve!! It is very frustrating because I have not even met half of my protein goal yet! I'm jealous of people who can eat 3 oz!

Thanks SunMoon- can you find Prilosec or Prevacid in chewables? I think I'm supposed to be on chewables for one more week.

I haven't had any vomiting, but have been on the brink since day 1. I don't know if my weight loss is excessive (down 45 pounds since June 10), I've seen others that have lost about that amount so I don't think so. The abdominal pain and nausea has been pretty much constant since day 1 and the acid reflux just started about 2 weeks ago. That's when the I first started feeling the lump. I talked to my dr and he prescribed Zofran while I'm out of town this week to help with nausea, I already take two pepcids a day...if it's not better by the time I get back in town, we are probably going to do the EGD.

I am having the SAME problem! It was actually making me gag a little anytime I tried to eat or drink but I started some zofran today and it seems to be helping with the gag reflex. My dr doesn't seem too concerned, but I'm worried about having a stricture!

This is exactly what I am going through. I am barely eating anything because of the nausea. I am having my dr call in a anti-nausea med for me because I am struggling! I feel like I am having morning sickness again!!

My surgery was June 10th too. How is it going for you? I'm slowly taking bigger sips and bites, but am majorly struggling with the protein.