Lissa_S

As I've recorded here earlier, I've been having a rough few days. And this was starting to affect how I viewed my weight loss so far (yep, started comparing myself to other's and was coming up short all the damn time). Anyway I was sitting here and feeling a bit rubbish and started wondering what percentage of my starting weight I'd lost. Well let me tell you - 24%. Yep I an 3/4 of the person I was before That makes me feel better

Wow, congratulations Nessa! That's a fantastic result!! You must feel great

Puppyphat - I realised that the post sounded like I was happy you get sick lol. Not the case!! Just happy I am not the only one who gets it (means it's not the leak lol)...

I've done that too Kayargh I usually need to go and have a little lie down. I haven't puked which is a good thing - it's more that I just feel a bit unwell. I suspect that it will sort itself out soon enough Thanks Puppyphat - that is just what it's like at the moment. I can drink fine, no problems. Then I eat and it either goes straight through me or I am left feeling queasy. I am just trying to get my Protein in at the moment so I don't get that weak feeling back. It's good to know others struggle with the same thing!

I am a little bummed at the moment. I've been having more and more trouble eating since last Saturday. I know I am drinking more due to the heat but it's getting to the point where it's uncomfortable to eat at all I'd been going so well too. Has anyone else had this? Periods where you can even feel a bit sick after eating? I don't want to push it but on the other hand, don't want to go backwards either...thanks, Lila

I just bought new scales from Harvey Norman. They are the old fashioned type of scales as the last one's I had (WW scales) never worked well after I changed the battery. Anyway, these stupid scales weighed me correctly (or at least close to the scales at work) the first time. I then moved them into the bathroom and checked today. According to them I am now 115kg. Now, I know my weight loss has been rapid, but to lose 15kg in a week? Na, not convinced So I moved them back out to the lounge and I am apparently 90kg. I even double checked that the start point was at 0 (it was). I am thinking that I have a date with the "returns" desk!!

HI - Glad to hear you are okay. I had a leak too and was in hospital for 8 weeks. I was in ICU on a ventilator after the first surgery. I had other complications from the leak too, plural effusions, my lung collapsed etc I had four additional surgeries, twice to put in the nasal gastric tube which didn't work either. I ended up with a PICC line and TPN for 8 weeks. I cried a lot, probably from about week 5 onwards actually. I hated hospital, the sounds and smells. I am so pleased that you are now leak free It is really hard initially but it does get better (when people told me this I thought they were liars though lol). Just do what you can and challenge yourself every day. I am now 7 weeks out since the test showed there was no leak. Some days are still tough...but nothing like what it was at the start. Good luck!! Cheers, Lila

Hello fellow sleevers, I hope this blog finds you all well. I am almost 7 weeks out since my leak was confirmed to have healed. Yay. I should get clearance from my surgeon soon to start going to the gym which I think will help with my over fitness (or more to the point, lack thereof). Generally things continue to improve. I still struggle (some days more than others) with a faintly sick feeling and a gurgling in my tummy. This usually means I am not eating quite enough or regularly enough. The less I eat at a meal, the more frequently I have to eat - and that depends on the day. So this blog is about the stupid things I have done, repeatedly, since going back on normal foods. In no particular order (I decided not to rank my stupidity as these are all, quite frankly, ridiculous) are: Drinking soft drinks (soda): Okay so this is mostly my several attempts to drink soda water. I've had a little lemonade and coke but it's so sweet I only did this a few times before deciding it wasn't worth it. What I have been slower in giving up is soda water (sparkling water). I keep stupidly thinking something would change and it would be okay to drink soda water but I've finally realised (after several uncomfortable and frankly painful experiences) that I should leave it well enough alone. Duh. Eating Bread (of any kind): So being the genius that I am, I decided to try bread. I always feel kinda ill afterwards. And yet I continued to try it. White, multigrain, soft grains, wholemeal, sourdough...always left with the same feeling of discomfort and just generally a bit yuck. Thank goodness I have finally decided to LEAVE IT ALONE. Eggs: Oh little eggies, how I loved you before surgery. I could have eaten half a dozen of you little buggers preferably poached, although I wasn't all that choosy. Now you have turned on me and make me very VERY ill. I no longer try to come to some kind of understanding with you...sometimes when you love something, you must set it free. Bye little eggies...you will be missed. Milk: Another before surgery love. Now, to highlight my stupidity, I need to give a teensy bit of background - I am Lactose Intolerant. Have been for years. And depsite this, I would guzzle a 750mL Iced Coffee three times a day. Yes I'd get the runs. Yes, I'd feel pretty darn sick. But I'd still do it. Post-surgery, I am lucky to be able to have the lactose free milk on my cereal for breakfast. Milk (of any kind) makes me sick. As does icecream which is just wrong. No more yummy iced coffee's or frappe's. Gone for good... Although it is taking me a while to work out what my sleeve needs, I feel I am making progress. It's slow. But I am learning to listen to what my body is telling me. Quick weight update - I am 40 kg down from my surgery weight And this Monday (03.12.12) is offically 3 months since the initial surgery date. I am really happy with my weight loss so far and hope to lose another 5kg before Christmas. Hope this finds you all well, sleevers! Talk soon, Lila

Hi Indigo Thanks for your response! That was why I wrote this blog - not to encourage bad habits but to say it's okay to make mistakes if we're learning from them (which I hope I finally am!)... With regards to the leak, I had quite intense pain following the surgery. Pain meds didn't seem to touch it. I couldn't stand up straight. I was cold but sweating so badly that it was dripping off the end of my nose and running down my face. I was really pale. I couldn't even walk down the hallway of the hospital. My heart rate was about 160 beats per minute and I had an irregular heart beat. This all happened within two days of the surgery. I think you can ask for a leak test to check before you leave which may give you peace of mind. It's hard to do (tastes gross) but you can clearly see if there is a leak or not. They did one after emergency surgery for me (a few days later) and you could clearly see the leak. They redid the test 8 weeks later and it was healed *yay*. Good luck with your surgery and I am sure you will be fine. Be cautious in your recover but don't panic - my experience was the exception not the rule...Cheers, Lila

Thanks Pinky Sounds like these might be American brands - I am in Australia and I haven't heard of these but thanks for the suggestions I do have yoghurt fairly regularly and love raspberry too. My dr has me cleared for all foods now so I can get away with the little seeds. Best of luck to you!!

Wow that felt super judgemental. Firstly while I was in hospital, the dr and NUT had me having ginger ale and lemonade to help with very low blood sugar and nausea. They were okay with this therefore, so was I, in theory. And I am sure that there are other people that have had "wobbles" post surgery to old habits. I have lost 40kg in three months so obviously I am doing something correct. I was hoping to share this so that other people that experienced similar "wobbles" wouldn't feel so bad or so judged.

Does anyone else find it really hard to eat when it's hot? I suspect it's because I am drinking more (even though I stop about half an hour before meals). I have had trouble eating for the last two days - no pain, just get very full and feel like it's sitting like a brick in my stomach for about two hours afterwards. I am not eating a lot - even a few bites can do it. I don't feel weak or sick though so that's a plus!!

Thanks The support I had during that time was invaluable and really got me through some pretty bleak times! I'm indebted to you all!

Wow!! Congrats Kell that is amazing! What an achievement!

Hi Mimz - 4 is such a great age Good luck with all the kids - the play centre is a great idea. I had 22 7 year old's at the movies this year Thank god for my family to help me ride herd on that lot! And that I live in a small town with a tiny cinema (one screen lol). I soak the cereal so it swells before it gets in my belly And normally it works pretty well. I have been eating sultana bran for a week or so with no problems. I just think it's really hot so I am drinking more than usual and my belly is at capacity. And you're right about milk - can't drink it since the surgery. I was already lactose intolerant before the surgery so have had Zymil milk for quite a while and even that is tough these days. So the only milk I have is in the morning. cheese is okay and yoghurt (small amounts) is fine too. Actually the BEST thing I had as a treat was some frozen yoghurt with berries the other day. admittedly I could only fit in about 5 spoons but it was a good 5 spoons! So I just think it's food that is the problem today. drinks go down a treat I might have an iceblock or two today as well and try again tomorrow... Cheers, Lila

Ugh...having a tough day with food today. Had a brilliant week really until today. Just trying to eat cereal and it's uncomfortable. Doesn't seem to wanna go down. Looks like it might be a crackers day today

Wow that is great - a size 18! Congrats on your awesome loss. It's a lot of weight in three weeks!

Sorry to hear about your dad, Lilly. Thinking of you in this tough time!!

Welcome Kelly Nice to meet you!

Awwwww thanks Kelli

My hair has been coming out more than before the op and I am only 3 months out (but I didn't have a normal experience either and had lots of extra operations - anaesthetic doesn't do wonders for your hair that is for sure). It is noticeable to those who know me as I've always had thick hair. But no bald spots and I've been going to get regular conditioning treatments at the hair dressers which seems to be helping.

I agree with Puppyphat and Shell, you guy's are awesome And thanks for the props! I am starting to "enjoy" the sleeve!!!

Wow I can't imagine going through this as a teen. And then having complications on top of it. I hope you are well now and enjoying your new life with the sleeve!

Hello fellow sleevers. So I am now officially six weeks out from the test that confirmed the leak had healed. In reality, we think that perhaps it had healed a fortnight earlier (they'd done a dye test and it didn't come out of the drains so it was probably healed then). So it's possible it is 8 weeks out since I was healed. It's been a rough ride. I really struggled when i first had to eat and drink for myself. I am pleased to say it's gotten easier. I am slowly learning what is better for me to have these days and what I feel better eating. For example, bread, pasta, sugar - the belly no longer loves It makes me feel sick and sluggish. I do much better when I avoid these things. Don't get me wrong, I still have carbs. I have between 1/4 and 1/2 a cup of cereal with dried fruit for breakfast and I lurve crackers with cheese and tomato. Mostly I do better when I can get my protein in. This is mainly lean mince and fish. Cheese, yoghurt and a half cup of milk per day is the other sources of protein. A friend of mine (who was sleeved two years ago) said to me just after I got home to focus on PROTEIN. Ever second word she said that was advice contained "PROTEIN" in the sentence. And she was right. Friends, if I was arrogant enough to offer advice to those getting sleeved it would be to focus on PROTEIN in the first couple of months. It's hard but totally worth it. I am still loosing weight...I have lost (depending on the scales) between 38 and 41 kg. One set of scales even had me down an extra 10 kg but decided that they were stuffed lol. But it was AWESOME seeing the numbers around 115kg. I don't think I have been that weight since the millenium hahahahahahaha. I always take the worst score for my weight because then if it's less then I will be surprised, so it's possible I am a little lighter than I am presenting here My hair is still falling out. I am not bald or anything but I hate how much I am loosing. I hope this settles down as my nutrition improves. The best thing has been going to the hair dresser (who's a mate) and she puts in a conditioning treatment for me. I am getting this done weekly at the moment to improve my hair's condition which was terrible following all of my surgeries and it seems to be getting a little better. I am also having my first facial and pedicure tomorrow since the surgery. It should be lovely. So does life get better after a leak? Yep. But it is a SLOW and LONG road back. It has been three months since my first surgery and OMG I am not even close to being back to where I was in terms of energy or fitness. But I am getting a little closer all of the time. I still worry about the leak coming back but I am trying to let this go. Worrying about it won't make it any more or less likely. And honestly it is holding up my recovery to keep worrying about it. I hope this blog finds you all well Talk soon! Lila

Thanks Well done with your marathon shopping!! I still have to go back on Monday and shop for gifts but the end is in sight now