mnmlst

I think my post came off sounding really negative. I didn't mean it that way. I'm really happy with my results, and I'm very glad I did the surgery. I just think you have to take the bad with the good. I worry that people looking into surgery read how few people regret having the surgery and think it's not going to be hard. And it might not be, since everyone is different, but for me there are definitely some minor struggles. I think it's good to go in eyes open. I'm glad there's essentially no bad effects for some of you! I'm still only a few months out of surgery so things might change, but there are lots of foods I just can't seem to tolerate, and when I eat what my stomach can handle, it just tends to be foods that don't really do it for me. That's fine. There's plenty of other things in life to enjoy! It was totally worth it for me, overall.

Yes, I have regrets. It sucks that I don't enjoy food anymore. I'm sorry that I can't eat even half a normal amount of food without feeling sick or even vomiting. But I don't regret the surgery overall. If you're considering the surgery, you can think of it like I did: a variety of sucky options. Option A: you work your ass off, feel hungry and cranky all the time, lose weight, and probably gain it back plus more (statistically). Option B: surgery. It hurts, you still have to do exercise, you don't enjoy food as much (if at all), and it's easy to make yourself sick, but the weight will come off with a much higher likelihood of staying off. Option C: Stay fat, enjoy food. There is no choice where you get to enjoy as much as you want of all the foods you love and read books all day in your chair and be thin. You have to pick which sucky thing you can put up with -- being fat in a society that really hates fat people (never mind if they're the majority) and accepting the possible health detriments that seem to go along with that, being sick sometimes and not being able to enjoy food, or being hungry and grouchy all the time and working out hard for the rest of your life. Sorry if that sounds negative. I feel like it's realistic. And I really don't regret having the surgery. I couldn't succeed long-term with regular dieting and exercise, and I didn't want to be fat anymore. To me, making myself sick by accident a few times a month and never really enjoying my food seems a small price to pay.

How often do you vomit slime/foam or actual food? I seem to be averaging 1 - 1.5 x per month. Is that a lot? Today I did it again, and I didn't even eat that much food. It's really unpleasant.

I broke my stall. I'm 60 lbs down. And I'm UNDER 200 LBS! Aaaaaagggggghhhhh! What a great morning! I am so excited! Hooray!!!

Premier Protein for me (available at costco or on Amazon). I liked it both before and after surgery. Pre-mixed.

I packed a bunch of stuff that I didn't end up using. What I did use was: My laptop (but not nearly as much as I expected to) Pajamas (way more comfortable than walking around the hospital essentially naked) Eye mask to block out light Chapstick Clean change of clothes for going home Really, that's about it. Mostly I just laid in the bed and moaned in pain, walked in circles around the hospital floor, and napped. For me, the first 36 hours were very painful. It's different for everyone and some people feel great after, but I didn't need most of what I brought.

Yep, you can. Just ask your doctor when, and be aware of the dangers of transfer addiction.

All I know is that my doctor told me "don't do it." He said it was the one thing they were most concerned about, and I should absolutely not get pregnant -- it is very dangerous. But I think that might just be for the first year or two?

I talked to my doctor about this at my last appointment. I have one half to 3/4 of a cup of regular every day. He said it was ok if my stomach could handle it. I'd just ask your doc and go with whatever s/he says.

Yes. Every day is another day in the artic tundra, as far as my body is concerned. Meanwhile, my husband is sweating bullets.

Honestly, if you could fit into a regular 12, I'd go that way, even if it was tight. You'll get there soon enough, right?

I sleep with 2 comforters and a quilt every night. My husbands sleeps with just a sheet because the house is so warm!

I'm 2 and half months out and have had 3 sliming/vomiting experiences. They were all TERRIBLE and I try to avoid them as much as possible. I think having these experiences is the best way to help us learn. For me, the best thing is to not let myself get too hungry. When I feel very hungry is when I scarf, and when I scarf, I end up in pain. Do what you can to keep from getting too hungry. Good luck!

This is great news! I'm so glad things seem to be turning around for you.

I think if it makes you feel good and you're still losing, go with it. None of us did this surgery to feel miserable or sick.

I was sleeved on 10/31/14. All is going well, so far. But I seem to be getting sick, again. This is the second time in two months. Nothing serious, just cold / sinus infection. But I was wondering if I wasn't getting the appropriate nutrition to fight it off, or something. I usually get sick about once per winter season. I take my Vitamins and eat right, so I'm not sure why I'd be more susceptible. Do you find that you get sick more often? Is this just a fluke?

I don't have PCOS, but I do know that this surgery can make hormones and periods go crazy. Some people have very frequent, long, heavy periods after surgery. Mine have all but disappeared. I wouldn't worry if it's a normal period, but I *would* definitely bring it up to your doctor at your next visit, and maybe bring it up to your gyn too. Good luck!

It was several weeks for me before I felt "normal." Probably when I got the hang of the full diet with solid foods. So... 5 weeks maybe? But I was out of pain and getting around ok 2 days out. It gets better every day and it's a learning process. Hang in there!

I'm 2.5 months out of surgery and have hit my first stall. It is terrible! How did you break your first stall? Or did you just wait it out? Thanks!

Has anyone successfully minimized this? Most of my skin seems to be shrinking back ok ... ish. I am using a firming lotion daily to help it along. But my arms just won't shrink. I'm losing fat there, for sure, but they just look terrible and wrinkly and floppy. Is there anything I can do to help this?!?!

Seriously, why no soda? The acid? The gas? I really, really want some. I've been months now without. Oh, it is hard!!! Have you tried soda post-op? What happened?

A cola icee is a great idea! Might try that! @@sunflowerchild

Like the first poster said, it varies person-to-person HUGELY. I was in terrible pain for the first 36 hours, and each sip of Water brought me even more pain. I retched a lot, but didn't vomit. Walking was harder than I imagined it would be at first, but I did ok. After the first day and a half, I was pretty golden. But there's no way to know how it will be for you. Everybody's different.

So the first bill has rolled in. $15k (mostly covered by insurance) for the surgery, room, drugs, etc. I'm wondering how many more bills I'll get -- from the doctors themselves, maybe? How many different bills did you get? I'm wondering how much more we'll have to pay before this is all over.

@@Quest4TheNewMe I am only 9 weeks out and it's happened to me 3 times. I am eating normal food and not eating much, and I was never a puker, either. I'm wondering if certain foods just don't agree with me? Your lack of slimes/vomiting makes me wonder if I'm doing something wrong.