S(he) be(lie)ve(d)

Ha ha! Love the offers to go clean & organize your houses! Actually, mine is needing some attention right now too. As a photographer, right now is my insanely busy time of the year with the gorgeous fall colors. Then add my hubby being gone on his hunting trips for a week plus at a time for both deer & elk seasons. So, I am basically a hunting widow during this time, taking care of 3 little girls all by myself and juggling my business at peak time. At the moment, I am doing my best just to remember to eat. It's been a little difficult, I have to admit. But, only about 3 more weeks! Then things should die back down to being more manageable.

Before I gained my weight, I used to clean or organize stuff in our house, go for a long country walk, workout on my elliptical, etc. Since we can't just binge anymore, I have taken up my old de-stressors back up again. You just have to get into the habit of doing something else, but make it something that is productive and keeps you busy.

Thank you! That completely makes sense. I haven't even eaten any noodles or doughy kinds of foods at all until today. Everyday I just focus on getting my protein and fluids in 100%. Then whatever foods I eat are healthy choices that I know won't cause me problems. I should have just stuck with the soup.

Don't forget to allow the 30 mins before and after you eat that you won't be able to drink.

I just order an appetizer or my hubby orders something a bit bigger. Then I just take a little from his plate. I just can't bring myself to order anything since I can only get 1/2 cup to 3/4 cup food down, depending on the texture. The kids menus, where we live, are not the healthiest really. chicken strips, nuggets, grilled cheese sandwich, fries, etc. At least our bill for the night is cut in half.

Walk, walk, walk, walk, walk......It helps move the gas out a lot quicker. I walked about 4 times a day. They were short walks down to the end of the road and back, but it helped a ton. If it is the other kind of gas pains, Gas-X in both the pill and dissolving strips are a huge relief. I literally had to hit the center of my chest to burp myself in the beginning. It eventually goes away, thank God!

Normally, I had about 2 cups of coffee a day. I gave up coffee during my 6 month medically supervised diet. Recently I tried Chike Mocha because something hot sounded good on a cold and rainy day. It has caffeine in it. Needless to say, it made me sick. It took me 3 1/2 hours before I started to feel normal again. It was awful! I am perfectly fine without it. Won't have it again!

I am one of those that only chose to tell 4 people that I have had the sleeve done. My reasons: Positive reinforcements, amazing support people that I can always count on, no opinions forced on me because they respect my decision, no gossip, etc. The list goes on. I am not ashamed that I have had this surgery, as well as having a very large hiatal hernia repair done. I have said that I have had a very large hiatal hernia repair done to those that might question. They don't need to know all the details of my medical history. My husband and I are very private people, live in a small town and have a large family that loves to gossip. His sister's nickname is "Mouth". That's how bad it is. A year ago, I had a lymph node removed because my doctors thought I had Lymphoma. They did all the normal testing beforehand, even a fine needle biopsy. They were all inconclusive/not enough data to make a determination. So, my doctors wanted to remove my lymph node from my neck to find out. Before I even went on the operating table, they were making plans for what would need to be done for Lymphoma. During this time, I was also undergoing testing for possible MS. By this point, I'd had so many blood draws, that I was a human pin cushion and so many painful tests and procedures to get an answer. To this date, I still am being required to do a MRI every 6 months of my brain to monitor things to see if MS is the answer. My Ear, Nose & Throat doctor told me that in his entire medical career (he is nearing retirement) he has NEVER removed a lymph node that large and have it come back as benign. He told me I must have Lady Luck or a Guardian Angle watching over me. While all of this went on, we chose only a few people that we knew we could count. There are still only a handful of people that know. They are our support system and always have been, without drama attached. Here is our reasoning for being and remaining private: Our middle daughter who is now 8 years old underwent a cranio vault reconstruction for being born with Metopic Craniosynostosis. Basically, premature fusion of the growth plate in the skull when she was in utero at the age of 9 mos old. Then at 18 mos old she began showing signs of Bilateral Trigeminal Neuralgia. It is a geriatric disease normally. There are environmental triggers that made her face explode in pain similar to that of a 320 volt of electricity going through her face at any given time. It is coined the suicide disease. Her little life was incredibly limited. She was not officially diagnosed until a few months before her 3rd birthday. I diagnosed her. Children's Hospital admitted it was beyond what they could do. We had to find a pediatric neurosurgeon and a specialist of trigeminal neuralgia. I found Dr. Ben Carson at Johns Hopkins in Baltimore, MD. He is the best of the best. We had to fly her there twice to have a microvascular decompression done on her left and right side. The surgeries were about 4 months part to allow for proper healing. During all this medical drama, we received a lot of public attention from our community and beyond. There was even an article in our local newspaper about her. There were a lot of amazing people that we couldn't have done without, but there were people that were very rude, hurtful and disrespectful. To this date, our daughter is the youngest to be diagnosed and treated with Bilateral Trigeminal Neuralgia. Dr. Ben Carson also did a published medical study of her. Yes, we chose to do the article about her because we didn't want to see another family go through what we went through with her. It was sheer hell watching our baby be in severe pain all day, every day and to have nobody believe you and tell you it was all imagined. With all of the attention and drama from our daughter's medical issues, it caused a lot of marital problems. We almost didn't make it. Our family suffered bigger than life. This is still a sore subject. My husband and I have been married for 17 years. We have made it through hell and high waters. We are still here. But, our decision to keep things private, is strictly our decision. We have been on both side of this fence. For you to say that people are ashamed of this surgery is completely uncalled for and completely unsupportive. I'm sure there are people that think that, but before you can pass judgment on others, you really should consider their personal reasons behind keeping their personal details kept private. Don't pass judgment. Try to put yourself in the other person's shoes and understand their reasoning. Everyone is different with how things are handled in their personal lives.

Currently, I'm 5 weeks post-op. Acceptance is key. I haven't been picky from day one. My tastes never changed. I knew I would have to drastically change what I am eating/drinking. So, I just bucked up, put on my big girl panties and did it. No complaints. This is a permanent life changing commitment. I ended up getting really sick about 2 1/2 week post-op with a head/chest cold. So, it inflamed my esophagus and hiatal hernia repair, as well. I was instructed to take a step back on my food progress, when I started to have referred stabbing pain in my left shoulder. It was pretty intense for a bout 15 mins after eating more solid types of foods. Now I am slowly entering the normal foods phase and mainly still at 1/4 cup with denser foods and a 1/3 of a cup with Soups and softer foods. My nut said I should be at about 1/2 a cup per meal. But, I'm also behind a week plus because I was sick. I'm just taking it slow and easy. I'll get to full solids eventually.

I've told my hubby several time over the years that since I have 17 years of training put into him, why in the world would I want to start over with a new one. Besides that I think he's pretty darn spicy!!!! <3

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nfWlot6h_JM shake it off!!!

Premier Protein Shakes are great too! 40 g of protein for 160 calories. They have chocolate, vanilla and strawberry. I buy mine through Costco. All flavors are really good!

I've been on RX Vitamin D2 50,000 iu's once a week for quite a while. I began taking them way before surgery even happened. It took me 3 months to raise my levels 27 points. My lowest level was 20. It was awful. But, it has made a huge difference in continuing to take it. I have chosen to stay on my RX. We have mail in prescriptions, so it doesn't cost me a thing to have an RX for it. I just have to have my blood work done every 3 months to double check my levels. No biggie really.

Being healthy, happy and regain self confidence again. I want to get my old self back and be the best role model that I can be for my 3 little girls. I want to eat to live, not live to eat. Most people that I have come to know in the last few years only know the fat me. They don't even know that I used to be a size 4 to 6 in past years. So, as my weight goes down, I will literally get to go shopping in my own closet! It's amazing that if you hold onto stuff, it comes back into style again eventually. Ha ha! When I reach my goal weight, then I will reward myself with a big shopping trip.

I began with a lower BMI as well. Currently I am 4 weeks out. My surgery was Sept 8th. The 1st month was brutal. In the beginning I felt amazing! Then the exhaustion kicks into gear. Of course it didn't help that I also ended up with a horrible head cold 2 1/2 weeks post-op. But, I'm fully recovered from my cold now. I'm finally at the point where I feel like I can function like a normal person and am feeling amazing again! The dreaded 3 week stall is over, for now anyway. This has been the best thing that I have ever done for myself! It's me time! Time to get me healthy, happy and regain my self confidence again. Even on the hardest days, I never once regretted my decision to get the sleeve. I'm so excited for what's a head!!! Good luck to you on your journey as well!

People with the sleeve can also have this happen. It isn't completely exclusive.

Some it bothers and some it doesn't. Some medications can do this to you as well. I have taken adderrall xr for several years now. But, since I've had the surgery, if I take it and then eat or drink even a shake, the dumping syndrome happens. OMG, talk about misery!!! So, I only took it for a few days post op. I haven't taken it since. Each week, it seems to get better and don't have it happen as severely or as often. I think it just needs to get out of my system completely.

I am almost 4 weeks out. I eat usually about 1/4 cup of soft mushies. If it is Soup, I can usually get in a little bit more than a 1/4 cup, unless there are chunks in it. Eating hasn't been the easiest. shakes don't bother me at all. I used to drink at least one a day even prior to surgery for several years. I'm having to constantly remind myself to eat at the times my kids eat, since I don't feel hungry. They have helped a lot since they are like little alarm clocks when it comes to eating. Breakfast, snack, lunch, snack, dinner. Usually I have a sugar free popsicle in the evening as a treat.

Trust the process. Stick to the rules and guidelines that your doctor has told you. It is hard, but you will feel so much better for doing it. My recovery hasn't been the easiest. I ended up getting really sick with a horrible cold. It felt like I had the flu. So, I had to take a step back in my progression of the kind of foods I can eat. Not fun. But, I did exactly as I told. Within 24 hours of increasing my Protein to 100g (until I am completely over my cold), continuing to get my required fluids and super soft mushies, I felt more human. Today, I am finally feeling like I can get up and do some things around the house. It has been over a week of feeling really sick. It was awful! But, seriously, follow everything to a T. Trust the process. It works.

Dumping syndrome, a condition that causes mild to severe diarrhea, nausea, bloating and abdominal cramping, occurs in at east 15 to 20 percent of gastric bypass patients after eating sugary or fatty food. I didn't believe that it would happen to me. So, I tempted fate. Two words for the wise. AVOID SUGAR. Not only for the dumping syndrome, but it will help tremendously in getting the weight off and keeping it off. Good luck!

From day one, I have never crushed or sprinkled any of my pills. Swallowing them with yogurt makes a huge difference. I don't even feel them going down. Not even the bigger pills.

I have to go to a dermatologist and get shots in my incisions to make the scars go away. I produce to much collagen, which in tern cause big scars. Not fun at all. But, I am sure a dermatologist could also help with this issue with regular scars.

Protein, protein, protein!!! You need to make sure you are getting your required amounts. If you are lacking energy, you body is telling you it needs it, big time. I know you don't like the shakes, but just do it. You will see a huge difference in how you feel.

When you get to the point where you can eat yogurt. Put the pill on the back of your tongue and swallow your pill with a little bit of yogurt(no chucks). They do NOT hurt at all. I still do this everyday. I recently tested taking my pills with water again. Ouch! Back to the yogurt I go! They just glide down and no drama added!

My surgery was Sept 8th. At my 3 week post-op mark, my kids brought home head lice. I had to clean like a freak, do massive amounts of laundry and treat & check 3 heads, plus mine. My hubby just shaved his hair. Lol! I paid for it by over doing it and actually ended up taking some pain meds I had left over, plus some valium from having my hiatal hernia repair done at the same time, as well. Because I over did myself, I ended up getting sicker than a dog with a nasty head cold. I had been down for 4 days and completely exhausted. I could not function. Then my 8 year old comes home with a concussion. Oh dear God! I am at wits end. I literally cannot handle anything else right now. My husband has been a saint thru this whole thing. I ended up calling my Nut because I was having extreme pain in my left shoulder on my collar bone when I would eat. It would last for 15 minutes afterward. She told me to take a step back in my foods and go back to really soft mushies. October 7th, my birthday, would have been the day when I can eat normal foods. My nut said it is a referred pain from my hiatal hernia repair. My esophagus is enflamed, as well as my hiatal hernia repaired area. So, eating won't be as easy again until the swelling goes down and the coughing settles down too. I also have to increase my Protein in take to 100g and no less than 64 oz of Fluid everyday. My body is trying to still recover from surgery and is also really trying to fight a nasty cold. So, it doesn't leave me with much of anything to have any energy at all. I am grounded to the couch for another 2-3 days to recover. I've already been there for 4 days. I think I've grown roots already. Ha! I hate just sitting/laying down doing nothing. But, I also feel horrible. I've also been advised not to go to a funeral that is out of town for obvious reasons. Either have to take care of getting myself feeling better and stay on the down low or end up in the ER. So, I am being a couch potato and sprouting roots. Being sick with the sleeve in the 1st month of recovery makes everything about 10 time harder. Trust your doctors and keep healthy, even if you have to post pone. Hopefully, my light at the end of the tunnel will appear in the next couple days. I am so anxious to not be sick anymore and just focus on becoming the healthy me again!!!