Katcloudshepherd

Hang in There!!!!!!!!! It's so worth it in the end. If you ate a lot of sugar and carbs in processed foods you are going through withdrawal. Once the sugar and carbs from the highly processed foods get completely out of your system it will get better. I drank so much water--I spent much time in the bathroom. I used a sugar free Fiber with Water to fill my stomach up too. If the liquid in your diet is the high Protein kind--it's not a bad idea at all to add fiber. After surgery, when I went on the high Protein shakes I got a terrible case of constipation before I added the sugar free fiber to my diet. Good luck. Kathleen

I had my week follow up on a Thursday, December 19, 2013. I was itchin' to get back in the pool and start exercising. I was a regular swimmer/water aerobics type exerciser before surgery. The sugeon looked at my incisions and said: "Gimmie another week." I was in the pool 2 weeks and 1 day after my surgery. I may be the exception to the rule. Talking to your doc is always your first and best option because everyone is different. Blessings, Kathleen

I'd say it's normal. I'm gratefull I don't have an appetite. I can walk past the Bakery in our local grocery store and not even flinch!!!!!!!!!!! Sure wouldn't have happened pre-surgery. food has become nothing but fuel for me. Something I have to do or else my brain starts to malfunction. I've also found since I no longer use coffee to wake up in the morning--food has become my new "wake-up". That first cup of coffee used to get me going in the morning. Now I don't feel like I'm "awake" so to speak until I've eaten my Breakfast. I find I MUST get my 8 hours of sleep every night also or it's very hard to fully function the next day. Kathleen

txsleeve624, Lookin' good there guy. Congratulations on your loss. Somehow that doesn't sound right when I read it. I hope to be where you're at in a few months. Blessings, Kathleen

I was extrememly lucky in my psych eval. I saw the same counselor I had been seeing for over a year for work related issues. My work related issues have been resolved but I still see the counselor for my WLS counselor. That True/False test is a trip. They asked the same question in several different ways. I answered honestly and found out I am a person who has difficulty with changes in their life. There is an official term for it but I can't remember it now. My nutritionist gave me guidance on how to loose weight during the required doctor monitored weight loss period. Good luck on your weight loss journey. Blessings, Kathleen

I bought the squatty potty too. It has helped me. Puts the rectum in a natural position like you're squatting to go. You could probably pile some books up on the left and right sides of the commode if you can't afford the squatty potty but they would not be as stable as a solid piece of plastic. I had AWFUL constipation when I went from the clear liquid broth stage to the Protein shake stage. Another thing that people don't talk about is movement--you have to move your body to get your bowels to move. You have to have the Water, the fiber, and movement of your body. I take probiotics too. Since I'm not eating Greek yogurt every day to get the beneficial bacteria--I have to take probiotics in a pill.

Yes my dear, you have every RIGHT to brag!!!!!!! Congratulations.

I'm allowed to drink all the decaffinated tea I want. Milk was allowed on the liquid phase. I use milk to get 8 grams more of Protein in my Protein shakes. THANK GOD I'm not lactose intolerent--don't know how I'd get my protein in without dairy. I drank decaffinated coffee (Starbucks brand) after surgery and it was fine. I had read on the label that it was also lower in acid. I tried some instant decaffinated coffee and man what a mistake. Immeadiate stomach ache. I guess the decaff Starbucks REALLY is lower in acid. I would suggest decafinated tea if you're going to have tea. There are some great decaffinated teas out there--I hope the research showing the green tea is better for you is true ; )--I drink a lot of decaff green tea. It counts towards my liquids for my doc and my new tummy seems to like the warm liquid on these recent cold days. Come summer, I'll switch to iced tea. I sure do miss my caffeine though, I didn't realize how much I relied on it to wake me up until recently. I have reached a point where I MUST get at least 8 hours sleep a night--if not more to feel awake the next day. I'll be allowed caffeine at the 3 month mark--so not until March eleventh for me.

startingoveryetagain, I'm not that far out but my life is definitely better. I can move without pain!!!!!!!!!!!!! That in itself is remarkable and makes me happier. My relationship with food has totally changed. It is now only fuel. I have to concentrate on Protein first, chewing thoroughly, spacing liquids and food, taking Calcium then waiting 2 hours to take iorn, waiting two hours to take calcium and taking Multivitamins twice a day. I have NO desire for sweets. My Protein shakes are all sweet. My calcium and iorn tablets are all sweet. I haven't got my appetite back yet and I can walk past the bakery in the grocery store and not even flinch. IF you had told me I'd have no desire for sugar and fat filled baked goods---I'd NEVER have believed you. I guess my tastes have changed for the better. I now crave savory foods--not sweet. I'm wearing sizes much smaller and they fit AND LOOK GOOD ON ME. My husband is thrilled because his wife just keeps looking hotter and hotter--never thought I'd be able to say that. I am more confident and outgoing and total strangers seem to pick up on that. I'd have the surgery again in a heartbeat. Kathleen

Cindy Quebedeaux Breaux, I know exactly what you mean. Between work and taking care of the house and husband--Jeez, I'm to tired to even think of it. I don't even have children. I don't know how you moms do it? Work at home or outside the home, take care of children, household and husband? I have a great amount of admiration for you. I also suffer from depression and take Zoloft--which doesn't exactly help the libido. Unfortunately, I don't have an answer to your question. The only time my hubbie and I are intimate is on the weekends. We almost have to schedule it so that we're both rested and up to it. My husband is 100% disabled so he has to be up to it too---no pun intended ; ). We waited over 5 weeks after my surgery, even though my surgeon didn't put any restrictions on when we could "get busy". Blessings, Kathleen

Lady Pink, One way to find out-- eliminate the pudding and see if you sleep better. I haven't had coffee since before surgery. I tried a little tea with caffeine--and my new tummy didn't like it. I had drank it in the morning so it didn't affect me at night. I drink sleepytime tea in the evening and take an herbal supplement to make sure I sleep at night. Good luck, Kathleen

I switched to 3/4 caffinated then 1/2 caffinated then no caffeine. i did this over a period of several weeks. One week 3/4 then one week 1/2 then one week none. Difficult for me since I've been drinking coffee since childhood. I also suggest you make sure you can get a minimum of 8 hours of sleep during this time. I still can't drink coffee and man when I don't get that minimum 8 hours sleep--It's a beotch getting up for work the next day and functioning. I had no idea how much caffeine helped me function throughout the day.

Congratulations!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm so happy for you and your new life. Blessings, Kathleen

LindseyHeth, Congratulations!!!! on the begining of your journey. I hope you have a routine surgery and an easy recovery. Blessings, Kathleen

Arts137, Thank you for the link. I know I am a food addict. I went to Overeater's Anonymous for over a year in an effort to lose weight. The fellowship was great. Thank God for the tool I have now. I did learn to take one day at a time at those meetings and live in the present.

Kandy12, I think people who have not struggled with obesity have no clue just how difficult it is. For goodness sake If I could just "push away from the table" for fracks sake--I wouldn't have had 80% of my stomach cut out!!!!!!!! That's EXACTLY why I'm VERY selective about who I give personal information to. I haven't even told my brothers. They're a few thousand miles away so I don't have to worry about seeing them in person. I just know they're not as supportive--so I didn't tell them. The other reason is when I told them I was joining the Army--the comment I got was "you'll be back in a few weeks." They didn't support that decision so I sure as heck aren't going to tell them about this one. I spent 7 years in the Army by the way and was honorably discharged.

Hello everybody, I've only told a few people I'm closer to at work. I work with some back stabbing people who would only use it against me. It's nobody's business about my personal life. Coming from the midwest, I used to be alot more open to people. I learned the hard way--sometimes it's best if you just keep to yourself and keep your nose to the grindstone. The co-workers I have told have been very supportive. The ones I haven't told--I don't trust them enough to tell them.

I take an herbal combination of melatonin, chamomile and some other herbs. It's called sleep essentials. I get it from Swanson Vitamins online. I take the pill and within a half an hour--I'm out. I sleep throughout the nigtht excpet when my bladder wakes me up. Unfortunately, I have an overactive bladder. I take 4mg. Detrol LA for that. Before I started taking it--I was going to the bathroom up to 20 times a day and several times at night. I even had the problems with it when I was alot thinner and in the military. Didn't take the Detrol until over 10 years after I got out of the Army. I also take 100 mg. Zoloft for depression. Those are my experiences. I wish y'all luck with finding something that works for you. Blessings, Kathleen

Welcome Jenny, I had the surgery because I HAD to. I had no co-morbidities BUT at 48 they weren't far off. My mother died from Type II diabeties, my maternal uncle died from Type I diabeties. My father died of congestive heart failure. Now that I'm a little over month out--my energy level is so much higher AND I don't hurt everytime I move anymore!!! Wishing you the best on your journey and I hope you have a routine surgery and easy recovery. Kathleen

MissyLINY, I went all the way up to the point of scheduling the surgery for the lap band several years ago. Knowing what I know now--I'm so glad I chickened out of the lap band. I had a consult with a surgeon in early 2013 and was left with a dissapointed feeling. The surgeon I saw was not exculsively a weight loss surgeon. His practice was abdominal surgery but not dedicated to WLS. I'm so gratefull I found another sugeon that ONLY does weight loss surgery and the practice he is a member of ONLY does weight loss surgery. I had my first consultation with him in September of 2013 and was so pleasantly surprised to find out my insurance covered the surgery AND I could have it as soon as December 2013. Once I made up my mind in October--there was no turning back. I'm a person who does a whole lot of research and then commits fully to a decision. The surgeon's office I went through is also a Bariatric Center of Excellence and I'm so thankfull they were the ones who performed the surgery. I was very fearful of the unknown factors prior to surgery but after the fact--I worried for nothing. I was so fortunate to NOT have any adverse reactions to the trauma of surgery, anesthesia, drugs etc. I wish you the best on your journey, Kathleen

Welcome, I wish you the best with your surgery and recovery. It's a big step but one that will hopefully lead to better health and happiness. I know I'm glad I did it. I was so forunate as to not have co-morbidities but I had to have the surgery to be able to move without being in terrible pain. Blessings, Kathleen

lapnicky, Congratulations. I can't speak to the lap to sleeve revision but my experience has been positive with my sleeve. I will tell you the gas pain after surgery was probably the most difficult thing for me to deal with. I listened to the advice posted here. Sip, walk, sip, walk, sip, walk........................Before I could sip liquids, in my case, it was get up, pee, walk, pee, rest, get up, pee, walk, pee, rest...........................Then when I had my leak test and could sip it was sip, sip, sip, get up, pee, walk, pee, set back down or lay down, sip, sip, sip, rest, sip, sip, sip, get up, pee, walk, pee, set back down or lay down, sip, sip, sip, rest, get up, pee, walk, pee.................. Glad I did all that sipping, peeing and walking because once the gas pain was gone, with the pain meds I had-it wasn't that bad. I was very fortunate in that the surgeon I had allowed for a patient controlled pain system. I'd push the button and I was good to go ; ) My surgeon also gave me drugs to prevent nausea and I didn't have any. I think I was one of the lucky ones who didn't react to the anesthesia, drugs or strong pain meds they gave me. Everyone is different in their reactions to the trauma of the surgery, anesthesia, drugs, and pain meds. I hope you are one of the lucky ones too and have a smooth surgery and an easy recovery. Blessings, Kathleen

I ate the Atkins frozen dinners pre-op. The serving size is probably just about right now for my tummy. When I ate them pre-op--I was thinking: "This is in no way enough food." Funny how things change after surgery. I loved the crustless chicken pot pie, and the other dinner Entrees. I never tried the Breakfast ones. They were VERY convienent for me but I don't have high blood pressure and don't have to worry about salt intake. THAT BEING SAID--I think the Atkins frozen dinners are higher in fat and like any processed food-way higher in salt. I'd check the label for the fat content and salt to see if your doctor would allow you to eat that much fat and salt.

Wow!!!! I'm so happy for you! I DREAM of seeing that 199 on the scale. I'm 6 feet so it may be a while. You look Fabulous---you go GIRL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Kathleen

Holy Crap! I haven't seen the show but may need to watch it so I will know never to take my new tummy and chance for a healthy life for granted.