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I was taking shots to prevent blood clots and told to walk for 2-3 min every hour. Well at home during my recovery I was so nervous about this damn blood clot thing that I walked 10 min every hour and a half. With in two days my calves were killing me, a classic sign of blood clots except for the fact that I had no other symptoms such as redness, swelling etc. Turns out the next day I timed how much I walked and 10 min for 12 times was 120 min or 2 hours! Pre surgery I was lucky to walk 2 min to my car and back LOL. My legs were sore from walking. Since then I have dialed it back as I am at the 4 week mark and no longer taking the blood clot shots I think I'm in the clear but I still walk close to an hour a day but in 15 min increments and only 3 or 4 times a day. Just make it happen!

Amen to that! I just drink Water now as all other flavored drinks taste too sweet for me too.

Welcome to the club! Just sip, sip, sip. Took me till day 3 or 4 to be able to sip enough and get my fluids in all day. Recover soon!

Hi Gemma, Great news, glad to hear you finally had a successful op. It took me about 3 or 4 days before I felt I could sip ok. My op was on 3/12 so 23 days ago. I sip just fine now, in fact after 22 days of practice I think I am an expert sipper LOL. So what day was your op? Want to know how many days post op you are. Just an FYI since your from UK but back in the 90's I was stationed at Edzell AF Base in Scottland so spent some time on your island Wishing you a speedy recovery!

Hi Marlajones, I am no doctor but this sounds much more medical than mental. I wouldn't risk my health on something like this. Maybe you could reschedule a visit with your PCP or Bari doctor in a few days and not wait four weeks. I think you need a medical opinion and here we can only give you moral support or at least that is my opinion on the matter. Either way do take care, we got your moral back so maybe you can take care of the medical and if anyone else has gone through something like this maybe they can chime in. Depression too is serious and needs to be treated which it sounds like you've addressed but dehydration is more of an immediate issue. All my best to you now!

Good morning rb, Well we all need some time to vent but I will say this. When I was doing my prep using weight watchers in the weekly mini mag there was a team leader who gave some good advice. She said if you stumble once do you then just pick yourself up and throw yourself down the stairs? I think the advice would be to say NEVER give up. Easy to say cause I am not in your shoes. PDX man or something close posted a really good post this morning about making a gratitude list. Look at what you are thankful for and not for the negatives. While that won't help your hair or your three pound gain just think of what a wonderful event you have to look forward to in two months. Your daughter will be getting married and you will be adding a son to your family. That has to be worth something no? Take care, fight the good fight, do what you can to address your current issues and b***h all you want on here LOL, we all good!

Congrats! That is awesome in only 11 weeks. It took me 6 months to lose 30 pounds when I last dieted so put it in perspective and you are looking better in your before and after pics it really shows a difference. Keep up the good work!

So did you succeed Gemma? All done with the operation? For the record, I ate a lot of pizza Monday night before my Wednesday morning surgery, I was told that on Tuesday I had to do a liquid only diet and take some kind of laxative at 10 am and 2 pm to 'clean me out'. All my prep prior was to show the doctor and my insurance company that I could stick to a plan (and I did lose 30 pounds on my own via WWs) so I am sure you should have been fine. Update us if you have the time/inclination.

Good luck! I know you and She's_Sleeved are scheduled for today. Remember to hang in there past that first week or two, it will rapidly get better. All our best for a speedy recovery and successful sleeve

Hi Indy, One question about your year. Was it a pretty straight shot down or did you weight loss look like a stock market ticker with some ups and downs but mainly downs obviously? I read a lot about folks who stall at a certain weight and was wondering if you experienced any of that and if so what did you do to resume the loss.

Amy, Congrats! That is fantastic. Always good if we can find small victories not always related to just the scale. Keep up the good work! (edited kind to can, can't type/think worth a damn)

Hi, Well yes, I like that term, "Sleever". Sounds cool for a change. Too much stigma around bariatrics from some parts so I think I'll adapt that term with pride. Best of luck tomorrow and welcome to the club (like I'm some vet of 22 days LOL

Best of luck today!

Hi Kylee, Try to remember when the scale didn't budge and you were at 315! You have done a fantastic job so far, 66 pounds even at the weight you don't like of 249. As the prior poster said you just had another major surgery, don't obsess about the scale, just heal for now and make sure you are doing all you can for your current recovery. Remember this is a marathon and not a sprint. All my best and hope you recover soon!

Hi Erin, Here are my thoughts but I am a rookie only being 3 weeks and 1 day post op from mine but hope it helps: "What is my pre op diet like? Dr Neil Floch is my surgeon." *I had to show weight loss pre op for my insurance to pay. I just did weight watchers and lost about 30 pounds. My pre op was 1 day only and it was liquid only to clean my system. I had to take some kind of Fluid that would ensure a BM at 10 am and at 2 pm. I've read that others did their preop diets liquid like for 2 or even 4 weeks but mine was only 1 day really and it wasn't so bad. "How long are you usually in the Hospital?" *I had my op early Wed morning and left at 9 pm on Friday evening. One gal on here said she was home the very next day so I guess it varies, check with your surgeon. "What should I pack?" *My doctor gave me a list but my cpap machine and some loose fitting clothes were all I really needed. A friend of mine who had the surgery recommended chap stick cause till you have the upper GUI to check for leaks your mouth and lips can get dry despite the IVs. "Does it hurt?" *Yes but the pain meds really helped. I'd say I only felt a really sharp pain once when I walked in the hospital, with the meds it felt more like a dull soreness rather than a sharp pain. However this is not for my first day, I had a much more difficult recovery than others and I was in pain on day 1 but from what I understand my case was unusual. "Anything specific you guys have found that you needed when you got home from the hospital?" *Gas X really helped me, highly recommend it. Get liquid acetemitiphen (sp?) ahead of time even though they may give you a prescription the liquid Roxicet made me sweat and light headed, I took only half doses. Also a back scratcher worked wonders for me as it was hard to bend over at the waist and finally I had a lot of waterproof bandages for my incisions or actually my hole in my chest so I could shower and not infect it. "What were the best ways to stay positive through the pain?" *I just told myself the destination was the goal not the hard part of the journey. Being on this forum also helps me to not feel alone in the process. "When did you begin to feel normal again?" *Good question, at 22 days post op I am not sure yet but I'm well enough to work, just tender at this point, not sore just tender. My doctor told me 4-6 weeks to heal my stomach. "Are there certain foods i will never eat again?" *Maybe. Everything still smells good to me except teriyaki sauce, the smell of that made me almost wretch! I'd advise you smell a food first then go from there LOL. If you check my first post I made a list of some thoughts on the operation for newbies covering a wide range of topics. It's in the March 2014 Sleevers topic forum. Keep us posted and best of luck to you! (Edited for formating)

Hi Beldary, Well I can't speak for anyone else but the day after my surgery I thought I was going to need some Oompa Loompas to take me to the Juicing Room and roll me around to get rid of the bloating I had. My doctor told me that they were pumping me full of fluids via my IV and that it is normal to gain weight right after the operation. I didn't weigh myself until day 12 when I had my normal follow up appointment and by then the bloating and Water weight was gone. I actually think it was gone by around day 3 or 4. Also it was hard at first to even get my 60 oz of fluids in so I think you'll find that you will lose all that water weight soon enough. Remember look at this longer term as in at least weeks and months not days or even hours. Also good luck to you on your journey and recovery!

Congrats Andrew! May I ask if after that initial surge of weight loss did you find that you lost pretty steady every week say around 5 pounds or did your journy have weeks where you lost more than other weeks? I am only at the 3 week mark and after my first two weeks of losing 30 pounds I lost 6 pounds my 3rd week and was wondering what my weekly losses would look like. I read a lot of posts where others talk about 'stalling' which at my size and muscle mass and the little I eat seems almost impossible to me. Thanks.

"I am 6 days post op from surgery n lost close 2 20lbs in 2 wks including my week before surgery starting diet excited but I don't see it on myself yet even though people say I don't look bloated anymore" @@jerseygrl09 great news, my bloating was the first to go. Went back to work after 2 weeks and despite being down 36 pounds no one has said anything either. I don't see much on myself either but we are very early, you one week and me only three weeks so look longer term. Where I did notice it is in my clothes. Everything fits much better and I have had to make two new holes in my belt. I dropped about 2 pants sizes too and can almost fit into my old pants that were 3 sized smaller but not yet. I guess the mirror is not too kind to us but at least for me the clothes being looser tells me more. Keep up the good work! Edited cause I can't spell correctly on my first posting

@@KajunGumbo I agree, I am not really hungry except as you said 'between my ears' LOL. I am just taking it slow too, I forgot to mention that I can eat yogurt too but maybe being a guy I was never a big yogurt fan hehe. @@jdillon not sure if your asking me or the OP but my 'official' weigh in is on Monday April 7th which is suppose to be my 4 week weigh in (2 days early as my 2 week was done on day 12). My 2 week weigh in was down 30 pounds and I weigh myself on a seperate non official scale only once a week on Wednesdays in honor of the day I had my surgery and it said I lost 6 more pounds since last Wednesday. I'll update my profile after my official weigh in. Btw where does one get those nifty little weight trackers that are added at the end of a post?

Hi Lamonica, The two prior posters have some good advice. Let me just say that I was sleeved on 3/12 so only 3 weeks ago today. There is not one day that goes by that I don't think 'now why couldn't I just eat a salad' or 'I could have done this naturally and saved myself all this pain'. When I think like this I realize I am not being honest with myself. I've tried for 23 years to control my eating with no success so here I am BUT... This is not about me, it's about you and I want you to know that you are NOT alone. I feel what you feel and I am concerned for you. If the depression is strong enough then definately I would advise you to seek professional counseling. That is nothing to let go or ignore. Also you have done great so far, 36 pounds is no small feat in anyone's book. I think simply you need to manage your expectations. I am a newbie too to these forums but I'll say welcome and make sure you use them for some type of support if your able. I just try to take it one day at a time. Also I got depressed when I had to come back to my doctor's office 3 days after my 30 pound weight loss (2 week checkup at the 12 day mark LOL) and the scale had me 1/10th of a pound heavier than I was just 3 days prior. My doctor told me that Water weight can fluctuate wildly depending on how much we intake and what our activities are for that day or even prior day. He told me that we are in this for the months and years to follow and not the days/weeks. I think this was his way of telling me to relax and just work on my quality of life. I would pass this advice on to you as well. Do hang in there and do post again. I'll be rooting for you!

Hi Everyone, I wanted to comment on the food issue. My sleeve was done on 3/12 and after watching Penny from 'my 600lb life'on TLC not lose any weight after 4 months after a sleeve surgery I asked my doctor about it. He has done about 4k bariatric procedures in his career and he did tell me that not all sleeves are created equal. Some doctors make them tighter than others. He had a follow up patient that after doing an xray or some such he said he could hardly tell anything was done at all. Of course that was an exception but he has all his patients on a very strict diet. I am on pureed food until day 29 (currently on day 21 now). Crackers (thin) not allowed till day 37 and most foods not allowed till day 45. He has a list of a few exception foods to incude raw fruits and vegitables, Pasta, rice, breads, beaf and pork that won't be allowed till days 90 and 120. Also for example eggs and tuna not allowed until after my pureed phase or day 29. I am in a bit of shock at how some people can and are eating all kinds of foods only a week or two out of surgery. I was sleeved exactly 3 weeks ago today and I can barely handle my pureed foods. I am very afraid to try to anything really solid until my doctor says I can. The only 'cheat' that I have done is to add a couple of saltine crackers to my tomato soup. Was getting old otherwise. I have a small booklet with about 30 pages of info in it including sample diets for each phase and there are like 7 phases from my doctor. My main staples that I eat now are as follows: Cream of wheat, Protein shakes, Water, creamy type soups, cottage cheese and canned peaches/pears (pureed only) and meat only chilis (pureed only). Ricotta cheese and marinara sauce is on my allowed list of foods but haven't gotten around to trying it yet. I'd say go with what works for you but again am a bit surprised that a diet plan was not included with some of your surgeries. I do have insurance paying for mine and I have a PA and a registered dietician who work with me and my eating. So speaking of which have we heard lately from our OP, Kimpossible80? How are you doing Kim?

Welcome Ebert, Not sure how they do the sleeve in Japan but with mine they gave me something to dry me out to assist my surgeon in the procedure. I was thirsty for my first week and my mouth was often dry. It just takes awhile for the dryness to pass and it does once you start getting in well north of 60 oz a day of fluids. More the better. I was stationed in Misawa Japan back in the late 80's when I was in the Army so I do know what you mean about the Japanese culture. Very little obesity over there for sure. Best regards.

Hi everyone, Not sure how to get the quotes to work so will do it the old fashioned way.. @@Dondie Olivia About the food cravings vs hunger I had to think for the last week to decide what the heck I was feeling. It took me just over a week but I realize now that what I thought was hunger was really more like a craving. Food occupied a far too important part of my life and now I am working to make myself cognizant of the fact that I am really craving the food, the social part of eating with my family or eating out and not really hunger. I find that if I keep myself busy, eat my small meal (I am in the pureed phase so I only just added cream of wheat and cottage cheese with pears/peaches canned and blended) drink my shakes and sip my soups I can pretty much function and not focus on food and instead focus on life. My sister who did this 10 years ago and is down 140 pounds still said she had to find something to replace food as her focus/interest. Hope this helps you. @@JurneeOfOne: I had my surgery the very same day but I weigh much more than you. I don't know how you feel but I feel that it would be unwise of me to actually run, jump or jog with my stomach stitches/staples right now. My doctor said it really takes about 4-6 weeks for the stomach to heal and the staple line to solidify and I would not advise anyone to put any kind of impact on that line of sutures or staples until that time. Maybe you could speed walk instead of jog or use an eliptic or bike to get more cardio in. Ultimately it's your body and only you know how you feel so do your best but I can see why those who care for you don't want you to push too hard. You'd really hate it if you sprung a leak down there and had to reset your healing back to a new day one. At either rate good for you for walking so much, my doc did say walking was an excellent way to recover. Weekend passing way too quick, happy shakes and soups to you all

Hi Everyone, Yes new member today and first post hehe Really want to contribute as I read each post I felt a special bond with each of you. Had my sleeve done on March 12th so am only 2 weeks and 3 days out. Can't really say that I am an expert now but I wanted to share some of my thoughts and experiences for you all with the caveat that as my Doctor always tells me each person is different so these may or may not apply/help you. Protein I had a hard time my first week to week and a half with consuming enough protein so my incisions didn't seem to be healing well. My dietician recommended Isopure Water, 20 oz with 40g of protein. I also tried 4 different brands of shakes. It actually helped me to drink premiere protein 30g protein, strawberry when before my surgery I was a chocolate fanatic. So if you can't stomach the shakes like me try different ones and different flavors, that may help as well as drinking flavored protein water (icky aftertaste but it went down) Gas Gas-X was a lifesaver, I recommend it from around day 2 or 3 onwards and ohy yes my stomach and intestines and who knows what else rumbles and speaks to me in some foreign language from time to time. Pain Well let me try this: Day 1: Surgery at 7:45 am, woke up at 11:00 am in Hell Day 2: Appears the Devil didn't like me and kicked me out of Hell and I found myself in a hospital room, bad pains! Day 3: More pain, sent home at 9:00 pm, slept poorly, Roxicet pain medicine my new friend Day 4-7: Yep more pain but not so bad, still needed help getting up from couch and bed. Day 8-13: Replaced Roxicet with liquid Acetemitophin (sp?) Now just sore. Day 14: Less sore, went back to work, stopped all pain meds, most of the last two weeks of pain forgotten after weigh in of 30 lbs less than when I had my surgery. Day 15-17 (today is day 17): Minor sore if I bend the wrong way, healing nicely and feeling very sorry for those of you stuck in the two week time capsure of recovery from Hell. Weight Loss Saw a show called "My 600 lb Life" on TLC I think and talked to my Doctor about it. Gal named Penny lost 40 pounds pre op on liquid 1200 calorie a day diet but then stayed 490 lbs for the next 3 months then gained 5 pounds on month 4. I asked how it was possible. He indicated that water weight can be an issue and that is why he only weighs his patients every 2 weeks during our recovery visits. My advice to anyone not losing fast or staying static is to weigh in once a week at max or even only every two weeks at first due to the water weight and look for long term results not daily results. Diet It seems there are a lot of different ones out there. I have a very strict one from my doctor. Days 2-14 were liquid only with creamy Soups (strained!) allowed. I am on my last day of semi pureed and then tomorrow start a pureed diet. I do miss chewing but for those newcomers the early introduction of strained soup really helped me get past the 'water and Protein shake blues' So try soup to help with taste... Taste I seem to have aquired the 'sweet' bug. Everything seems too sweet to me now. This caused me some grief cause before my surgery I was a gatorade, soda, juice or anything flavored kind of guy instead of just water. Even the dasani water drops I bought left a 'chalky' aftertaste in my mouth. My solution was to just go pure water. Use to the soup and Protein Drink or shake to break up your day with different tastes. food Tolerance? Every thing still smells good except... My wife brought home some teriyaki chicken and rice. I swear to the almighty himself that to me it smelled like some small rodent had died and was covered in used motor oil. I had no problems with the food before my surgery nor any problem with nausea but I was sure I was going to heave and let fly if it got any closer to me than a few feet. I am not sure but I think I can't eat teriyaki chicken anymore. sleeping I use a cpap set at the G5 tornado force winds setting and felt fine before my surgery. Now my mouth dries out and I have to wake up and sip water several times a night to alleviate the symptom and it is getting better but I used my cpap at literally 100% of the time and now it's a bit harder to use so be prepared though this could be just common to me. Also FYI I found the first few days I could sleep much better in a recliner or semi sitting position instead of lying flat. After about 12 or so days despite being sore I can sleep flat now w/out much pain in my abdomen region. Vitamins I found some Bariatric ones, easy to chew not to bad on the taste and designed just for us via Amazon. Be sure to take the Iron supplement away from the Calcium as it interferes with the calcium absorbtion (or so I'm told) That's all I can think of for now. I am in a bit of shock at how some people were home so fast. Hopefully you are being well cared for. I hope we keep our little sub group intact since we are all going through the same thing at around the same time. I also want to say that my first few days I really had regrets for doing this but that was me just being in pain, being sore and missing the psychological impact and relationship that I had with food. Now I am feeling that this is the right decision and that getting past the first two weeks was the critical part of the operation. My sister had the classic bypass Roux done about 10 years ago and she prepped me well so that I understood that the surgery is just a tool and like any tool it can be abused so the exercise, eating healthy and taking care of one's self is still important and can't be neglected as I have done for too many years. So in summary for those of you thinking of doing this or just done it hang in there the first two weeks will go by and indeed I went from thinking death was a pleasant option to embracing my life now and I have a lot of work to do still. Have a good weekend everyone!