1Day1Life4Now

I'm 4 weeks post op as well. I went out for Mexican food with friends. I shared fajitas with my husband but all I ate were a couple of small strips of chicken and some refried beans. It was yummy but my head wanted more than I could eat.

Yeah, I stocked up on the broth and now I have way too much. Maybe I'll use it one of my crock pot recipes. I too used to drink tons of water prior to surgery but post op... I couldn't stand it. I can drink the propel and a few of the other flavored waters but not plain water. I ususally put kool aid drops in my water bottles and it makes drinking sooo smooth. Good luck everyone Hope everyone has a successful surgery and don't forget to post your updates!!!

Wow, you look great. You can tell you have worked hard on that accomplishment. Congratulations.

Wow Bethzy, what a transformation. You were beautiful before but now you are beautiful and tiny. Congratulations on a job well done. Did you have problems with hair loss?

I used to have very thick hair. So much in fact that when I went to the Hairdresser....they would run. I always got so many compliments on my thick dark full head of hair but then 4 years ago I was put on medication for depression and my hair started falling out and now my hair is very thin. I now have about 1/4 of what I used to have. I am 1 month post op and I sit here reading about the upcoming hair loss and I'm getting pretty nervous. I suppose I should be looking at wigs now but have no idea where to start that process and what I should be looking for. I am so happy I had the WLS but gee, I'm not in to this hair loss thing. If anyone has any suggestions or advice on where and how to get the wigs, please let me know.

I am 4 weeks post op and I'm having the same problems. I will try to take smaller bites. I was thinking that maybe I was eating too fast and it could be a part of the problem. Sometimes I feel like I am so hungry, I eat, and then I'm miserable. Can't wait for this part to be overwith.

I agree with all of you. This is a personal journey and one on which we do not want to be judged. I told only my husband, daughter and best friend. I did not tell my parents or any of my siblings so I certainly wasn't going to share it with anyone else. I'm happy with my decision. I have also noticed how other people eat and a lot of naturally thin people eat slowly and choose their protein and veggies before starches. Why didn't I notice that before. I know when I'm with other people eating lunch they do pay attention to what and how I'm eating. I sometimes put my glass of water to my lips like Im taking a sip but I don't actually drink it. I'm not ashamed of WLS but I just am not comfortable sharing this process with others. It's just a very difficult place to be... I'm just a month out and I don't see it getting easier.

I didn't know kidney stones was a side effect of WLS but I did know Gall stones were. I guess it effects both. Sorry you had to go through that. My husband and daughter have kidney stones frequently. Diet affects them as well. Good luck and hope it passes soon.

the sight of those buffalo guarding that hole in the fence would certainly get my heart rate up.

But RJ you have been a good friend to so many people here. Your support and insight has meant so much to so many trying to get ready for this surgery and then through the process itself. I think you are awesome.

Let it roll off your back. All of us here have had experiences like that at one time or another. I promise you will be able to laugh at this down the road. I remember one time sitting in my parent's porch swing and pulling the swing with me in it from its hinges to the ground. I was so embarrassed I wanted to cry. My husband and dad kept trying to make me feel better by saying there was something wrong with the chains while my step mother just kept going on and on about how much I weighed and shouldn't be sitting in the porch swing. I've never sat in another of their swings since. I think your Guardian Angel was sending you a message saying that yes, this surgery is going to help you, don't be nervous. I believe in signs and that was a positive one. Sending you positive vibes and lots of hugs. You can do this and you will be so happy with yourself.

Hi Earnest. I'll be praying for a safe surgery tomorrow. Like any surgery, when you wake up you pretty much feel like you've been run over by a big Mack Truck. It's difficult to swallow fluids and your stomach is pretty sore. The hospital will bring in a tray of food, none of it will look appetizing and it none of it will smell good but they will expect you to consume part of it. Most people go home the second or third day and the broth you fix at home will taste better. Each and every day makes a noticeable difference as far as what you can consume and how you feel. Take the first week slow and let your insides heal. Week two you will have energy and excitement for the journey. Good luck and have a safe recovery. You're gonna love this after the first month. lol

I can't tolerate plain water. I have to have flavored water or it won't go down.

Yes it is but everyone's normal varies. There is no definitive time frame to be able to do anything, there are just approximations. Everyone's journey is just a bit different and some people can start eating regular foods at 4 weeks while others can't eat till week 6 or 7. My team tells us to try one new food at a time, if you can't tolerate it...wait a week. My first week it took me forever to drink 4 ounces of water. Now I can drink quite a bit in a short period of time. Not like before of course but each week I see such a difference in my food and water intake. As long as you progress, that's all that matters. You don't have to compare yourself to others, your journey is good. Take care of yourself and hope your recovery is good.

Prior to surgery I purchased a Weight Watchers scale and it wasn't a cheap one. I wanted a good scale to help me through this weight loss process. But now, I don't trust the scale. I don't think it is accurate and I don't know how to deal with this. Each time I step on the scale it gives me a different weight. I can step on the scale and get one weight and 5 minutes later I weigh and there is a 3 pound difference. I pick up the scale and move it to a different place and step on the scale and the weight is down 4 pounds. What the heck is going on??? Is there a way to calibrate these scales so that they are more accurate? I don't want to be scale dependent but heck, I'd like to get an accurate reading so I know how I'm doing on the diet. Does anybody have a secret fix???

I'm 58 and I don't feel I'm losing as fast as some on the posters that are in their 20s and 30s. I try not to compare myself with others as everyone's journey is unique but I have noticed that the younger folks do lose more rapidly and they seem to have more energy. I'll be 4 weeks post surgery on Monday and I still can only walk a mile and a half. Next week I will try to do 2 miles per day. I hope that will help with the weight loss.

I did those clear broths for 5 or 6 days and they were disgusting. I finally just got chicken noodle soup and just strained the noodles and chicken out of it. It tasted sooo good and met the qualifications of clear broth. On week two I started eating Cream of wheat and put some cinnamon and Spenda in it. It really cured those hunger pains and felt like I was eating food. I made runny scrambled eggs, grits with butter, and oatmeal. It was a nice break from the soup. I'm from the south and our food has always had seasoning and flavor...I just can't do food with no flavor. I bought a food processor and just started processing any food my husband was eating and it all went down just fine. Sometimes you just have to experiment and find what you can tolerate. I am still loving my tunafish and chicken salad. They go down easy and have taste and are filling. No more soups for me.

I am in Mississippi and I was sleeved On Feb. 10th. The first week was pretty rough, second week was no fun but weeks 3 and 4 have been tolerable. I'm still having to drink protein drinks in order to get my protein in but otherwise it's not too bad. I still struggle getting all the water in but I am doing better than I did pre surgery. I'm feeling great and am so happy I had this surgery. Looking forward to losing lots of weight and would love some southern sleeve buddies.

Hi Mandie, Before surgery when we ate meals we normally ate till we were "full". That's what got us into this life style of being overweight. A lot of what this surgery is about is getting past that concept of "full". The sleeve allows you to eat just so much, maybe 3 to 4 ounces at a time. Our minds and our tastebuds may still be hungry but our tummy will say "no more". We no longer eat till we are full, we eat till we are "satisfied". We learn to eat enough to give us the nourishment we need and no more. Once you move to the next phase of pureed foods you will be more satisfied and then even more so when you can move on to more solid food. The first two or three weeks of liquids is to give your new tummy a rest and to let it heal so getting full is not on your "to do list", in fact, eating till you are full could make you very sick. Take it slow and use this time to learn to eat slowly and in small deliberate bites. This journey is a learning process and takes a while to get it right. Good luck to you.

Susie, what an awesome transformation and an encouraging and inspiring story. Thank you so much for your post. I am 4 weeks post surgery and worried about the slowness of the weight loss but you have renewed my enthusiasm for the journey. You are beautiful and I wish you continued success. Janet

It would be best if you delayed the surgery. You do not want to go into surgery with any type of respiratory problem as it could cause some difficulties for you. I went into surgery without any type of known problems but I must have had a hint of a cold because I had problems. When I woke from surgery I had a lot of congestion in my lungs and was constantly having to cough. Not good on your stomach right after surgery. My pulmanologist was called in and she had me on breathing treatments every 4 hours and some other meds plus I ended up staying in the hospital and extra day which was an added expense. Do what is best for your health. Delaying the surgery a week or two to ensure a safer and easier recovery would be the wise thing to do but please call your surgeon and discuss this with them so they can give you their medical opinion before you are on the table. Recovery is difficult enough when you're feeling 100%, why bring complications into it? Good luck and let us hear from you what is going on.

I'm flying to Greece when I'm 4 1/2 months post op. I'll be climbing mountains and walking a lot but I'm confident I'll be fine. A cruise should offer unlimited food selections that are diet friendly so you should be good to go. If you are exercising all along you should be strong enough to do anything you wish to do. Good luck.

Hi PokeyJo, yeah I'm starting to reconsider my original goal too. I've been looking at others weight loss and they are my height and stopping at much higher weights. Im wondering if that might be better for me. I suppose as I get to each stage I will make a decision then.

Most people have a pretty rough time the first week, I know I did. When we are pre-op and we're reading the posts, we tend to focus on those that say they had no pain and no hunger etc because we are so hopeful and so eager to be that person who has NO ISSUES after surgery. In the perfect world...that would be us. Here in the real world...surgery is serious and it hurts to be cut on so the thought of having painless easy surgery is a bit unrealistic. Just do the best you can the first couple of weeks, exercise as much as you are able and drink and eat as much as you can tolerate and everything will fall into place. That difficult part is so temporary but the weight loss is forever life changing. Good luck and hope you feel better soon.

Hi Willow. Oh I remember those first days...they were indeed pretty rough. My surgery was also on a Monday but Friday and Saturday proved to be the turning point and by Sunday I was feeling pretty dapper. The secret is to keep moving...walk walk and walk some more. It really does make you stronger and makes you feel better. It gets the gas moving so it can be released and for some reason it makes you heal faster. That first week I was saying to myself, what the hell have I done to myself but by the next week I was at peace with it all. Hope you are feeling better. Janet