1Day1Life4Now

Miss Mac, you are looking terrific. you can certainly see your weight loss in your face and arms and you are much smaller in the middle. Like the previous poster said, losing in the core area takes so much longer. Women were made to hold their weight in that area to aid in child bearing so you can't fight nature. Keep on doing what you are doing and you will soon notice even larger changes. Thanks for sharing.

Two weeks ago I was where you are today. That first week is a bit difficult but after that... it's pretty easy if you follow the rules. Good luck and have a very safe surgery.

Yes ginger tea is encouraged for nausea. Don't put sugar in it. Just sugar substitute. Good luck with the nausea. Hope it will be better soon.

My nutritionist told me it was on the list of "never foods" as it can cause a lot of problems. Nothing better than buttered movie time popcorn though.

Great article. Very helpful and very accurate. Thanks.

It's against the law to fire somebody for being sick and taking sick leave. You have had some unplanned complications and they should be considering this. If they fire you... you would get the unemployment compensation but not the insurance. You should be allowed an appeal or two through your HR Dept of your company. It sounds to me like your District Manager is bullying you to come back to work. Once you do go back you should report this. She probably doesn't realize how difficult this is or maybe she/he has biases against obese persons. Stand up for yourself and don't let them push you around.

Move back to step one, get back on liquids and protein drinks for a couple of weeks and then start following the diet. You'll start losing again. If you need some psychological encouragement, consider seeing a therapist to find out why you may have sabotaged yourself. It's never too late to get back on the program, all you need is to want it. Good luck.

Hi Smilee, I live in Mississippi but I hear there are some great surgeons in Memphis, Tn. I had the gastric sleeve 2 weeks ago and I'm feeling wonderful. I've lost 24 pounds so far and I can't wait to lose the rest. The first week is pretty difficult but once you get the drinking fluids down the rest will come easier so start drinking your water now. You will have to contact Medicaid to find out what their requirements are. I had to do a 3 month pre-op supervised diet and have all kinds of tests run but it was all worth it. Good luck to you.

woohoo, keep up the good work. You can do it.

Yes its normal. Everyone is different and everyone heals differently. you have to heal from the inside out and it just takes awhile. Don't be in a rush. Keep drinking your water and protein. It will get better.

SKyriakakis....nice greek name by the way. Before starting salads, check with your nutritionist first to see if your sleeve is ready for the raw spinach. If so....go for it. sounds like an awesome meal to me.

Katt, you are only 1 week out so it could be anything. You need to call your doctor. If you were able to drink the protein shakes prior to surgery than it is not lactose intolerance. If all liquids are making you sick then it is possible you will soon be dehydrated. You may need an IV infusion to give you fluids and make you feel better. Either way, please call your doctor and let him/her determine the real reason. Good luck.

Hi there and congratulations on your decision. It is a life changing decision and if you what you want is to change your life....you're gonna do it. I have Rheumatoid Arthritis and though I am only 2 weeks post surgery, my joints can definitely tell the difference. I'm still recovering but I am so happy to have done this. The weight is coming off much quicker than any other diet I have ever been on and I feel really good. Good luck and if there is anything I can help you with I am glad to help. Janet

I just recently purchased the book Weight Loss Surgery Cookbook for Dummies. excellent book by the way but while searching for it, I found several cookbooks for pressure cookers as well as a Pressure Cooker Recipes for Dummies book. Thought some of you might be interested in some of these to help with your pressure cooking. Good luck to everyone. Eat nutritiously!!

My doctor said wait 4 weeks post surgery.

NOOOO, never use aspirin products again. You will have to use Tylenol unless you want to cause problems to your sleeve. Do be careful.

I had IVs and such so my own pajamas were not an option. Also they put those pump things on your legs to prevent clots so they generally don't want you wearing pajama pants. For me the hospital gown was so much easier. Chap stick and gas X are a must. Also bring a go pair of slip on slippers so you can walk the halls comfortably. I didn't feel like reading or doing anything on the computer. An Ipad or Iphone to play music to relax you might be nice. Other than that the only other thing you need is an advocate. Somebody there to help you get up and down as your stomach will be hurting. Good luck.

Hi Amy. My sister lives in Reston, very familiar with the area. I'm two weeks out and I got the SLEEVE. I highly recommend it.

I am so sorry you are having these problems. No wonder you are depressed. You might need a visit to the ER for an IV of fluid to get you over the hump and make you feel better. This surgery and diet is all about NUTRITION. You have to eat and drink what your body needs regardless of what your brain wants. I am only two weeks out but I've adjusted pretty well. I have HUGE head hunger but I eat what is on the list and I don't deviate. I too had problems with the water till I discovered the SF Kool Aid drops. Ever since, the water goes down so smoothly and I love the taste. When I go to bed at night I take a bottled water with me and every time I wake up I take 3 sips. As soon as I wake up in the morning I take a few sips before I get out of bed. It has seemed to help. I agree with the others that you should call your doctor and also sit down with your nutritionist so she can help you add some variety and interest to your diet. Wishing you luck.

I did wear foundation and blush. It made me feel more alert and more presentable. Nobody at the hospital ever said anything either way. When I woke up.... I don't know how I looked but I sure felt pretty rough.

I feel the 8 hour drive will be a whole lot easier with your Aunt than flying alone. You don't know if you will be nauseous so that will be easier to deal with in the car. You can stop any time you need to where in a plane you are a bit stuck. Getting there the night before is wise and depending on how long you are kept in the hospital, a night or two at the hotel is a good idea. Some people feel just great after surgery but I suspect the majority of people felt like I did. I felt like I'd been hit by a Mac truck. I am happy to hear you are considering taking someone with you. It will be safer and you will need someone to do things for you in the hospital as well as help you walk after surgery. Wishing you the best of luck and a safe surgery.

This could possibly be your gall bladder so as everyone has said. CALL YOUR DOCTOR.

Do you have a sister or friend that could go with you? How long will you be in the hospital? I had my surgery on a Monday and was not released until Thursday. I had a couple of small complications that one can never plan for. You can' pick up anything more than 10 lbs after surgery. How will you manage getting to the airport with your luggage? Check with the hospital to see if they will let you be released to a taxi. My hospital would not, I had to have someone there to check me out. The first week is the most difficult and I hate to see you do this by yourself, as this is when you need someone. Good luck to you.

My doctor never discussed this topic with me though I did know what it was from leading posts on this site. My doctor is wonderful and she has performed this surgery for years so I put my faith in her professional ability to do what needed to be done. The size of the bougie will not determine my success or my failure so for me...it's useless information. How to fix nutritious and tasty things I can eat.... now that is something worth knowing.

Congratulations to all of you. Use your pre-surgery time wisely and get your head in the game. The first week is pretty hard but after that you can breeze on through if you are mentally prepared for this. Read books on weight loss and weight loss cookbooks. It helps. Good Luck.