AshleyMidwife

Just wanted to give an update on my progress so far. I am 5'10" with starting weight 297lbs. Surgery weight was 287lbs and currently I am 260lbs. I had my surgery dec 9 and I have lost 37 lbs total including the 10 I lost preop. I know this is an amazing loss of poundage, but I can't help but feel that it's slower than most. I haven't incorporated regular exercise yet, and I start playing volleyball again next week. I still get pretty darn tired after work or vigorous activity (like a long walk). The most calories I've been able to eat so far is about 700-800 but avg 500-600 most days. Not hydrated for sure, but working on that and it is getting better. I'm excited because it seems i can tolerate more and more foods, which makes me feel more normal. Protein is still hard to get in.... Probably because I'm so bored of protein shakes! It is so weird still to sit around other people who are eating a meal and I only have 2-3 bites. Makes the quality of the food more important and the company as well! How priorities change...... I definitely have a fascination now with watching other people enjoy food. Especially if I cook it for them. That's love to me! Just thought I'd update ya'll on my progress

I haven't done any alcohol yet....hoping to try a small glass of wine in a few months. A small amount of most booze is low cal. Don't go crazy. I used to mix booze with crystal light. Yum!

I'm supposed to be able to tolerate soft foods now, but I just tried a small amount of fish and a bite of potatoes. Then threw it up! I had a similar problem advancing from liquids to purée. So frustrating! It's getting depressing having drink my calories all the time. Guess another week of puréed foods and liquids is on my horizon. Booooooo

Thanks for the input. Yeah cheeses usually sit fine, in fact i had cottage cheese for breakfast today. I think I am still getting used to the new portions (man it's hardly anything!) as well as needing to try different foods or maybe just do more liquids. Now that I'm feeling better, by brain is telling me to eat but my tiny sleeve is rule maker now! Lol .... There's no use in being depressed about it though; this is my new life!

NOBODY WARNED ME! So I've been having is Icky taste in my mouth for about a week and just figured "hey I'm in ketosis, this is normal." Then one day I noticed some dark stuff on my sink when brushing my teeth. I looked in my mouth and my tongue was completely black! Eeewwwwww! I brushed and brushed and finally got it looking normal, but gross! I did a little investigation and I guess it's not that uncommon in our population to get bacterial/yeast mouth infections because we aren't eating normal food that would help clean the bacteria/yeast in our mouth, we are almost all chronically dehydrated (at least in the beginning), and I had been using pepto bismol for heartburn until I saw my doc, and that can make it black too! So I stopped using the stuff and it's getting better. Trying hard to hydrate, but ew I wish someone woulda warned me! So here's my warning to all the newbies.... This can happen to you! Hydrate, take proper heartburn medication and brush and floss religiously. Maybe I can save you from this icky weirdo side effect.

First I would see how you feel. If you can barely shower without using all your energy, you may want to sit this one out. If you are managing your daily activities ok without feeling too dumpy, I'd recommend you bring most of your own food with you or purchase it while you're there. 10 days out I was on purée but was having a hard time tolerating anything thicker than a Protein shake. Bring a big Water bottle and have it with you at all times. HYDRATE! I would bring enough Protein shakes for the trip (or buy them when you get there.) You can basically live off those things if you need to, so nutrition wise, that's probably all you'll need. Bring all your Vitamins, some pain meds, and remember to rest when you feel tired. That's a lot to put your body through. Interestingly, I was most tired after sitting up for so long bc it works both abs and back. And your abs will be weak. You'll probably be fine, but if you're nervous, talk with your surgeon. Good luck on your surgery I've lost 26 lbs and am just getting out of that post op fog... Beginning to appreciate my sleeve. It might take awhile for you to get to that point in the beginning. Recovery has been harder than I thought. So don't push yourself. I jus went back to work and, although I am making it through the day, I am completely exhausted by the end of my shift. Wish I had two more weeks to rest, but such is life! Let me know if I can answer any ore questions!

So I am just over two weeks out, and suddenly I noticed today that my sleeve is tolerating food MUCH better! What a relief! I was starting to get so frustrated. I am now able to finish a protein shake without problems and eat purée just fine. I still take my time and am not pushing it, but this small victory shows me that someday I will be able to not feel so anxious about eating, and disappointed with the difficulty. Whew! Finally

Mine said the same thing. Guess I will just have to see when I get there! I had my surgery 12/9- HW 297, SW 287, CW 271. I am 5'10".

I am 2 weeks out tomorrow and range from 200-500 cals a day. It's frustrating because I feel so run down all the time. I am in purée stage and can hardly tolerate that! I made some puréed boiled cauliflower and ate two small bites and threw it back up but things like pudding stay down fine usually. I go back to work tomorrow and am so worried about not being able to keep up at work due to feeling so run down. No energy! To add to the frustration, I have no desire to eat or drink. Like seriously.....NONE. I force myself to help with energy but end up throwing up anything thicker than pudding. Feel low.....

I'm in the Seattle area too! Sleeved dec 9th...lost 24 lbs so far (including preop week). I'm so happy for you and you look amazing! Congrats!

Had my first major outing today. My boyfriend and I decided to take a little road trip to a snowy mountain town about 4 hours away. I drove and by about hour three had a fair amount of back and abdominal pain. Got to the hotel and took some Tylenol and laid down for a min, then hit the town! The walking around was fine and the not eating was manageable, but I really felt sad that I couldn't enjoy an adult beverage with my honey. It didn't even sound good! Thinking back now, a lot of our road trips and outings include alcohol. I used to be very into wine tasting! I know it won't be this way forever, but I did feel a little regret in terms of losing that part of my life. My life doesn't revolve around booze (please no Addiction accusations) but I'm young and we used to Include it in a lot of the things we would do. I look forward to someday being able to enjoy a glass of wine with him. Moderation! Anyway, I had French onion soup (sans bread and cheese) for dinner, and slept like a baby. We head home today and although I'm not looking forward to driving, I'm pretty happy it was a successful trip.

That's awesome Donna! I had surgery dec 9th. Down 24 lbs Hw 297. I think I will shoot for 180-170 too. We'll see how things feel once I get there. My thinnest as an adult was 190 and I felt amazing and quite thin even though I was a 12-13 size pants. I look at pictures from then and yeah there's a little belly left to lose.... Can't wait to have that problem! To lose more or maintain? That is the question!

I feel your pain. 10 days postop and I had a mini melt down yesterday because I feel dehydrated and I just want to eat food without feeling like its stuck in my esophagus! I miss normal food! And then I reigned it in and remembered why I did this. And I remember all the stories or read on here about how things get easier and food is easier to eat over time. And I remember where I want to be, how I want to feel, how I want to look, and that my god I am not even 2 weeks out yet! Take a deep breath, drink some chicken broth (might help with the salt cravings) and relax. It'll get easier. We can do this!!

I just drank half a premier protein shake and then battled with an hour of indigestion! Burps and pain! I'm 9 days postop....why did this happen?

I probably did try to drink it too fast. I drank about 4 ounces in and hour or so. I haven't had any trouble with any other protein shakes and stopped drinking when I felt the full feeling. I also haven't being doing any milk/whey protein which is what this shake has....never had intolerance to milk/whey protein before. So I'm going to give it a few days and slowly try to reintroduce it again. It just freaked me out. Almost went to the ER I was in such pain.

Ever since the premier shake I've had bad heartburn. I didn't have it before the shake when I see my doctor next week I will ask for an antacid medication. I'll wait on the premier shakes for a bit. I liked it too... Just screwed with my whole day!

It's just weird because I've been drinking protein shakes without any problems at all, but this one caused me a ton of discomfort! I realize my insides are all different and healing I was just wondering if anyone else had this problem with this product. Maybe it truly is just postop weirdness. Thought I would put it out there and see what came back! Thanks!

Well I'm now 9 days post op! Haven't lost any more weight in 3 days, but that makes 22 lbs down total since my 1 week pre op diet started. I'm pretty happy with that! I'm not worried about the stall....just my body figuring out what to do with this new life! I have little pain with eating, and able to drink without any problem at all. Still feel behind on fluids though. On puréed food this week and next, but having a difficult time eating. I just have no desire to eat! (Or drink for that matter) Yesterday I stocked up on some new protein shakes and I'm going to make that my staple. I need to create a better daily eating and drinking routine. I'm worried too because anything thicker than applesauce gets stuck and I can feel it "dancing up and down in my esophagus" (as someone here put it.) I go back to work next week and I'm worried about being too weak to make it through my very busy days. So I'm trying to build up my endurance everyday. I can tell when I've done too much because my pain starts up in my abdomen and I feel soooo tired, like I could sleep anywhere. I just hope I'm ready for next week! I have to remember everyday that this is a process, and it will get easier to get my protein and cals in. Feeling good for the most part!

I'm one week out as well. I'm right where you are in all regards. I have lost 22 lbs since starting my preop diet two weeks ago, and look forward to advancing my diet. For me, if I didn't know I had to eat and drink, I NEVER would! I have no hunger and no appetite. That's good, but strange feeling! Yay to us... One week down! Cheers (two glasses with 1/2c protein enhanced carnation instant breakfast)!!!!

Thanks for the info! And the encouragement ????

Gaaahhhh! I'm five days out and I got the hiccups from eating something I shouldn't and now I'm being punished. Oouuuuccchhh!!!!

I am so sore today!!! Hiccups hurt!

Any vets have insight on this topic?

This thread is exactly what I wanted to post about today. I am post op day 6 and am felling frustrated that I cannot even finish a shower without feeling flushed and weak and sweaty. Like I'm going to pass out. My heart races and I just feel so weak. My plan for today was to go to the grocery store, but all I can manage is to shower and get dressed lol I hate feeling this way! Guess I'll try for the store tomorrow. I drank half a protein drink before the shower, but I just can drink fast enough to keep up my energy! Does anyone have any suggestions about how to feel better with more energy?

My NUT said that we do sugar free do prevent dumping syndrome. Also to aid in weight loss. I haven't had a problem but am trying to consume less sugar to help in weight loss.