HumanMerelyBeing

I certainly would not want to discourage anyone with this post. But I, (like I'mreadyforthis and others) had read so many uber-postive posts about the post-op experience that I think I had almost built up unrealistic expectations and then felt like a failure when I encountered some of the issues described in the main post. Having some pain, discomfort, energy drain and issues getting in food and drink are actually quite common and all in the range of normal, but the wonderful part is that every week the body makes huge strides in healing. Major surgery is just that: major. I've had other surgeries that were much worse with longer and far more painful recoveries involving long term physical therapy, etc. This surgery is not that difficult by any means, but we should let people know what can be experienced and be ready for it. Then if they are one of the lucky ones who jump out of the hospital bed raring to go, they can be pleasantly surprised. But if not, they can know what the common challenges are which they may face in the first month AND that each week will yield remarkable improvements.

It's funny you just posted this. I just posted a thread entitled, "THIS is how the first 4 weeks go..." It's a bit tongue in cheek, but it gives a pretty good idea of the progression I just experienced (I am one month out today). And yes, you will feel really totally normal again. For me, it was 4 weeks and I'm guessing the average is 3-6 weeks.

ProtiDiet has high Protein Water add ins, high protein oatmeal and even meals. I don't see anyone talking about this line very much, but it seems like it would be a good way to get in extra protein without a lot of added calories. Has anyone used these products and if so, what are the pros/cons? They are for sale at Nashuanutrition for example.

Are there really so few CT-ers out there? Where is everybody?

RJ - I am also sorry to hear this. You are one of the bright spots on this forum and I have gained a lot from your posts and your responses since joining a few months ago. I do know this feeling all too well and can oddly experience it during the change from winter to spring. You'd think it would be the opposite, but I don't get the same dip as fall and even winter come on. And yes, meds have helped a lot during these darker times. Maybe it's time to get back in contact with your provider. Hang in there, you have many admirers on here!!

The hospital sent me home saying not to take any pill that was larger than a pencil eraser. Is that forever or just initially? I see a lot of you are taking Vit E and Vit D and various other things - how are you getting them in. Also, what do you do when you get a cold - can you take something like a Dayquil pill or does everything have to come in liquids? How about tylenol? (I hate liquids, BTW). Just curious.

OK, so I am 3 weeks post op and I think I just experienced my first episode of pain following eating too fast? Or maybe not chewing enough? I had about 1 oz of very soft turkey, which I have been tolerating fine, but I think I wasn't focused enough on my 25-35 chews and going slow. Ouch! I got a lot of pressure and tightness and over-salivating and general discomfort which passed after approximately 20+ minutes. OK - I get it! Good reminder, sleeve!! You are in charge right now, not me!

Amazing!! Congratulations to you. This is not easy and you look very fit, too!! Thanks for the inspiration.

Girrrrrl, your body just lost 31 lbs in less than a month. It's taking a little breather, trying to catch up with you. As long as you are doing what you are supposed to (and it sure sounds like it), then you'll be just fine. This is the sage advice that the veterans gave me last week. I am 3 weeks post op and lost 11 on the pre-op and 11 immediately following and then have gone like 14 days holding steady.

I take Centrum Adult Chews. They taste OK, but you have to take 4 of them a day - little round chews. I also went went Bariatric Advantage for the calcium chews, but as Fiddleman states their regular vitaminds are gross.

Zoumommy - I wasn't warned away from salsa and didn't have any trouble with about 1 TBLS with the egg. You are right though, it is an acidic food, so maybe there is reason to wait a bit longer.

Yeah, the over-salivation is bizarre and gross. What an excellent governor on eating too much or too fast.

I'm surprised, too. Most of my caregivers have been very supportive if not even guiding me that way. In fact, the reason I ultimately started to even think about and research it was because my cardiologist kept bringing it up. He said that the stats for WLS patients in terms of cardiac instances and other co-morbidities is much better - even if you only lost 50 or 60% of your excess weight. He also said that studies show that once a person has 100+ lbs to lose, the likelihood that they are going to do that on their own is pretty low. I'll never forget, he called WLS "the 1-2 punch" that my weight needed.

I am also 3 weeks post op. I had 1 scrambled egg w/ some salsa for dinner recently and it took me about 20 minutes to eat. I couldn't quite get throuh the whole thing. My NUT suggests making each meal last about 20 minutes to ensure you are going slow enough but not to stretch it out past 30 because then you can start taking in too much at one sitting.

I'm in the same boat. I was sleeved on 2/4 and hoped I would be pain-free by now. Some days are better than others, but bending down, getting up, putting socks on, etc are still hard due to that acute pain on the upper left side. I read in a few other posts that some people just have this type of pain hanging on and my own doctor said to expect various levels of discomfort through 6 weeks and some have it longer. As long as it's not worsening or something you've never felt before and as long as your incision site looks good, it's probably just part of the process. I'd say to listen to your body - if it really doesn't feel right, give a call into your surgeon's office.

Wow, this is really brilliant. Congrats.

Hi there - I am also here in CT. Just had my surgery on 2/4/14 at Hartford Hosp. I lost 22 lbs between the pre-op and 1st week post-op but now have been in a total stall for the last 2 weeks. So soon after surgery, this is a bit of a downer. I am still in some pain so my walking has been minimal. I hope to pick this up in the next week. You are doing amazing: 75 lbs in 4 months! You go girl!

It's probably muscle gain. Hang in there.

I was sleeved on 2/4/214. I've been going along fine, trying to get in my liquids and my Protein etc and struggling at that right up through day 14, 15...then yesterday Day 16 - my appetite returned and I am hungry!! Same thing today. And now I really want to eat every 2 to 3 hours or so. And I'm not having heartburn and I can drink my liquids without any difficulty. Like - Bam!! It just happened. I do get full after a few ounces of pureed and soft foods, but like seriously a switch feels like it just flipped in my system and it wants food again and can tolerate it. Yesterday, I edged up to about 450 calories and today I'll probably hit over 500. Wow - I just didn't expect it to be so sudden. A few days ago I didn't think I'd ever get back to real eating again. Is this normal? As an aside, in the midst of all this: I am feeling like a WLS failure as I haven't lost one pound since day 7 post-op. I have this lingering doubt like maybe I went through all this and it just won't work for me. I am trying to be more rational, but it's bumming me out.

I haven't had more than 300 calories/day since I was on the pre-op diet. I am two weeks out of surgery as of tomorrow. I really feel that my body has gone into total starvation mode, which of course, causes a stall so early in the process. I am really trying to get in more Protein and all my Water, but the Proteins feel so thick and I can only drink so much before major discomfort. Two weeks out I am still in some fair amount of pain both with movement and with swallowing. Additionally, I can really feel the atrophy that has occurred in my legs, arms and my overall endurance level. I have been walking and using the treadmill - but wow...I really feel the physical decline of my body since surgery. 1st seminar: 283 lbs Post nutrition visits (4 months): -17 lbs (266) DOS (2/4/14): -11 lbs (255) Week 1 Post Op: -11 lbs (244) Week 2 Post Op: 0 lbs (244) Well, that is all for my little pity party. I know this all will pass and recovery is happening, though slowly. I am amazed at those of you who reported no post-op pain, laying on side first night home from hospital and drinking with no issues. It makes me feel like a bit of a failure to realize that my body didn't go that way. Ah well, brighter skies ahead, friends.

Southjerzjoy: I almost cried for you to read about your slip on the ice. OMG. Winter in the northeast - yikes.

Thanks for the encouragement. The first 18 pounds I lost during my nutrition visits over 4 months. Then I lost 11 on the pre-op diet and now 10 since surgery - but all in the first week. Then absolutely nothing for the last 2 weeks. I'm thinking my body must be in starvation mode until I can start getting more in.