psylocke72

No liquids with meals was something I did not think I could manage, but I've been great about it so far. Also, working physical activity into most days in the week is an amazing accomplishment for me! Now I don't feel complete if I haven't gotten some exercise in!

Good luck to you Jenyp8409. I actually just miscarried and am feeling sad. The doctor couldn't say what caused it and it may or may not have had something to do with my sleeve. She did discover that I have a fibroid, which also could have been a contributing factor. I'll never know! At any rate, I'm sending positive vibes your way and wishing you a beautiful little blessing!

Hi ladies! How are you all doing? I just wanted to check in with other women with similar health concerns. This is my 3rd pregnancy and so far, very different from the first and second. I have had almost no nausea (mild queasiness, but nothing to send me running to a toilet). My biggest symptom has been fatigue, frequent urination and breast tenderness. How about you all? My weight has been quite stable so far, going up a half a pound, then back down. I was just wondering, especially about the lack of nausea, though that wasn't much of a problem in my second pregnancy either. What have you been experiencing?

@lalajade....I had no known fertility issues. We weren't trying, but we also weren't trying not to conceive. I figured that with fertility rates dropping steadily after 40 and a lackluster love life, there was next to no chance of pregnancy. Go figure!

@babbs...Amen sister!!

I did not shave, was not shaved by others and never advised to worry about that. Also, no catheter. However, one of the ways they got me to get up and walk post-op was with threat of inserting a catheter if I didn't get up to pee. It was hard and I was out of it as I wobbled through the recovery area, but I damn sure got up to pee!

It looks like we're in this together! Interestingly, I have not had any cravings yet. I have been more thirsty than before so I drink more Water. I'm eating the same and that has been fine with my body. Most of the time I'm still noticing signs of hunger, until I actually sit down to eat and realize that my body really needed some food. I still haven't told my NP. I'll see her after I see my OB. Have you ladies told your surgery team? How did they react if you did? It's helpful to have a mini-support group in you two!

I'm 43 (44 in March), 6 months post-op and just learned that I am 4.5 weeks pregnant. This is my 3rd pregnancy (kids are 16 & 11). I'm scared and excited....worried because I was warned to wait a year (I wasn't trying, TBH sex was barely happening so this is a big ass shock!!). I had an IUD in for 10 years prior to the surgery and decided to give my body a break due to my age and minimal sex life with my hubby. Well lo and behold, removing the IUD seems to have revived my libido! I'm sorry if this is TMI, but I am hoping to hear from any other 40 somethings who have been pregnant in their 40's post surgery. Any unique complications specific to our age group? How did or is it going for you?

I think you went back to work too soon. I was out for 5 weeks which was probably more than I needed, but allowed me to go back feeling great without problems. Can you get another week approved?

Jessica Jones- netflix, super-powered PI on a mission to take down a super-powered villian (played so evilly by the dashing David Tennant). Excellent series! Daredevil- netflix (I'm not watching now, eagerly awaiting season 2). Blind, super-powered attorney who fights evil both in and out of the courts. I was not a fan of the comics or movie but this series is fantastic- well written, well acted, engaging story for superhero fans and non-superhero fans.

Congrats to you! I am in a similar position...6mos. post-op, down approx. 75 lbs. and just had a positive PT this morning, so I'm about 4.5 weeks along. This is my 3rd, wasn't trying, but also wasn't trying not to...I'm so scared to talk to my NP because they said no pregnancies for a year. However, I am 43, going on 44 so I figured the chances of pregnancy were quite slim anyway. I would also love to hear from others who are in this now or been there done that. I've been drinking 2 Protein shakes a day (Unjury) along with about 4 small protein-heavy meals. I will replace my multi-Vitamin with a prenatal (minus Iron, since I already take a supplement). I hope to see an OB in a few weeks, but I'm not due back at my surgeon's office for 6 mos. I am also terrified about weight gain. In my first pregnancy I only gained 17lbs. Since I was obese then, that was fine. After that pregnancy, I gained 30lbs (while nursing for 14mos.!) which I then lost via weight watchers. 2nd pregnancy I gained 55lbs (!!) and then more while nursing for 2.5 years. I have learned a lot thanks to this surgery and hope that my new skills will help me avoid that gain again.

Yes indeed, congrats to you. I've hit my first stall (almost 6 months out). Increased carb intake over the holidays definitely has something to do with that. I'm trying to get back on track and get things moving forward (or downward) again!

So, I am about 5 weeks post-op and I just "survived" my first trip to Trader Joe's with my family. I walked the gauntlet (you know, the displays of tantalizing chocolates, Cookies, cookie butter, etc. that they set up along the lines to the register or at the ends of aisles) and made it through without adding anything to my cart. This was indeed a challenge as I was accompanied by my husband (a.k.a. the man who always goes shopping-while-starving) and 11y.o. daughter. Hubby threw some chocolates and ice cream in the cart and my DD excitedly pointed out the cookie butter and some other evilly delicious cookies. I grabbed my bags of greens and lean Protein and kept it moving nevertheless. I guess that this increased will power and lack of sugar cravings is a lingering effect of the surgery and these past weeks of nearly no carbs. I also maintained some steady positive self-talk, reminding myself of my mission and new path towards a healthier life. But, I am wondering how I will manage "The TJ gauntlet" when my biology returns to a more normal state... Do any of you veteran sleevers have any helpful tips for the newbies? Any newbies want to share their personal triumphs over trigger foods/stores along with survival tips?

I feel you on your struggles guru! I've gone down basically a clothing size and need to replace & discard. However, as I have lost a good amount of weight in the past (through WW) and regained it +, my issue is fear of gaining the weight back and not having clothes. You might try one of those clothing rental websites (Gwynnie Bee has plus sizes, too), I'm thinking of trying that once I go down another size, especially because I don't want to buy an entire winter wardrobe that I may not be able to fit a year later.

I have similar concerns Teddy (I also work in a school setting). I have colleagues whom I needed to tell for practical reasons. However, I know how gossip spreads, even among "friends", so I made a decision to be open about my surgery to those who inquire. In order to do that, I had to make peace with my decision and reach an internal understanding that WLS is not "an easy way out" or a "magic fix". It is simply a tool that will help jump start healthy changes in my life, but I need to do the hard work for the rest of my life. I will say that to any naysayers who may have negative criticism for my decision.

Unlike many others on here, my post-op diet was: Clear liquids for the day after surgery and until I was discharged (which was the next day. After that, I was on full liquids for one week (this included greek yogurt, sugar free Jello & popsicles, Protein shakes, etc.). During that time, I made sugar free jello with added Protein Powder (Unjury's site has a recipe). I was on pureed food approx. one week post op (after 1 week of full liquids). After 2 weeks of pureed food, I am now on soft foods for a week or two. My surgeon is one of the best in the field. It makes me wonder why other surgeons make patients do a full week of clear liquids and then another week of full liquids. I think I would have had no energy for anything! @@lachellove, if you can, try making the sugar free jello with added protein. Also, as others suggested, get isopure or unjury chicken Soup flavor. They count as clear liquids.

I'm a clinical psychologist who works with adolescents. Also, @@skyjones, you are sooo NOT too old! Go for it. I started my doctoral program right after I finished my undergrad. Would you believe that I was the only grad student who entered straight from college? So many of my classmates were in their 30's and my best friend ended up being a 40y.o. woman who had gone back to school in her late 30's! Do you!

BTW, I don't know if it matters, but my pre-op diet was NOT full liquids. I was doing 3 Protein shakes with a sensible, low carb/low fat dinner.

I had one "cheat" dinner 3 days before my surgery. It was fried chicken. I didn't eat a crazy amount (two pieces of chicken) and ate veggies with it (trying to keep it low carb). I talked to other friends who had WLS and found that this is not uncommon. I am glad that I did it, otherwise I might be going crazy right now with fried chicken cravings (I'm in the soft foods stage). It may be a very long time post-op before you can have those foods, so I say enjoy yourself (moderation, portion control)! Good luck!

My post-op diet instructions said coffee day 3 as well. It noted "decaf preferred" but that was not an absolute. I will say that I had a half a cup of coffee 1 week ago (that was 2 weeks post op) and I experienced terrible diarrhea. The coffee had half and half and was sweetened with artificial sweetener. I cannot say for sure that the coffee caused it, but I have decided to wait a few weeks before I try again!

Try making sugar free Jello with unflavored Protein powder. That was really helpful for me during my week of full liquids (two weeks ago) even now in the pureed stage. unjury has a recipe on their website.

My surgery was about 5 days ago. From what I have read on this forum, it is highly variable. The gas pains started to feel somewhat better yesterday, day 4, but were still there. This morning feels a little better still. Walking does seem to help.

My doctor had a thorough history of my decades long struggles with my weight (e.g. past significant loss via WW, followed by regain+, etc.). He had a good sense of all that I had and was currently trying to lose weight. He then provided a plan that made it possible to do the 6 months without making me crazy or broke. I met with the nutritionist at his practice 1x. One co-pay. I went to my doctor's office for monthly weigh-ins for 6 months. Most of those visits I did not see him, thus no co-pay. He treats many bariatric patients and has instructed his registration staff and medical assts. to register us w/o co-pay and just weigh us. When I did have true visits, he always interviewed me about what I was doing, but I never provided "proof". Good luck to your friend!

I am 4 days out now and gas pain has been the biggest unexpected issue. I expected to have less energy and trouble bending due to incisions, which I do. I did not expect gas pains in my back and shoulders! I am trying to take others' advise and walk around as this does seem to help. The challenge for me is that I have chronic knee pain (injured it several times) and can't take ibuprofen, which is the only medicine that manages the pain. Even the hydrocodone prescribed by the surgeon is not touching that pain! I also did not expect to sometimes have difficulty drinking every 20 minutes or finishing my Protein shakes. I found a brand that I really like (Unjury), but I struggle to get down my favorite flavor (vanilla). I have no problems with swallowing, I just don't want to drink anything at a certain point other than Water. Also, make some protein rich, sugar free Jello. You can use Unjury's unflavored powder and your fave sugar free jello. It is helping me to get my protein in.

@@LisaLouBop , thanks for the tip. I will try using the thermometer. I've learned to enjoy the chicken soup flavor at room temp. I am curious about the suggestion from @@MOMMY2MGM to heat it up....might try it. Thanks ladies!