gottagonow

I had mine in about 6 - 7 weeks after my first visit with my surgeon. He required so many doctor visits to specialist (pulmonologist, cardiologist, endocrinologist, psychiatrist, nutritionist, endoscopy and sleep study - then sign-off by my PCP) but I was very serious about them and had those accomplished quickly.

I sleeved on May 19. I am doing very well except I worry about Protein. My doc goes by the school of thought that it needs to start coming from food and not shakes/drinks at this point, but will allow one to replace a meal.Since they never went down right, not really helping. Food protein sounds wonderful except I simply cannot eat that much protein right now. On another thread, we blamed the heat. I get my workouts in (started as an every day and now more every other day as I take advantage of enjoying life). I really like my power walks for a few miles. I feel it and do them at night. I sleep like a baby on those nights. If it rains, I hop on the elliptical. That thing kicks my butt once I read about the proper use of it. I had to get new clothes b/c I don't like that hanging off me look and well, I like what my body is becoming. That was nice. Who am I kidding, that was freaking fantastic.

It's like an internal burp. I can feel it making it's way up the throat, but I just keep my mouth closed. It's a funny feeling and it let's me know I'm all done.

I account for the empty calories, but no difference in the "buzz." I usually just drink Water when out. My NUT got me into a carrying around crystal light (I only like one kind) and getting the drink on the rocks and throwing in my crystal light to reduce the sugar. It's fine, but again, not worth it b/c it's like drinking water. Particularly, as I watch the scale drop, I'm more picky about my calories.

Here's what I do. I absolutely do not compare myself to anyone on these boards. When it hit me how ridiculous I was being, I acknowledge my unique ways in every other way, I felt much better. My PA also helped me with this with some real facts, and, no offense to anyone, not what a stranger says on a board. I also only weigh myself weekly. There could have been a stall in there, I have no idea. In addition, I love putting on clothes and looking at the new fit. That tells the story more than anything. I find the boards so helpful, but I'm me.

I will be six weeks tomorrow. I definitely noticed this the past week. Two - three bites of Protein, I'm done. I think it has something to do with the heat for me; I always ate less in the summer, but I don't really know. I do feel more restricted (those little hiccups come quicker lately). I can't say I like it. I've commented before, but socially, my eating ways are obvious. I just try to do whatever event occurs after meals, but I sure do realize how much my friends and I surrounded our socializing with food!

My doctor left it up to how we were feeling within reason (at least a week), so they did not resort to scare tactics.

Since I know I'm not eating enough, when I do eat, it's always protein. Deli meat and/or cheese. What a boring diet. Oh, I recently threw in some shrimp. My PA did not want me doing the protein drinks after my 4 weeks' visit and I do get 64 ounces of water. At month three, they do a test to check on any vitamin deficiencies and stuff, so I have some time for my body to adjust. I think the surgery shocked it.

I'm on BCPs and mine came out of the blue the other morning (I was not on the period phase). I hope this is not how things will be from now on. It clearly doesn't seem to be working. I'll give it a month and then seen what I need to do for this.

You don't have to justify yourself. I took a week and was fine. I'm glad I made myself move around and get going. If you don't feel right, then maybe rethink it but you should not feel any way about your decision b/c others made a different one. I honestly have no idea what I would have done with two weeks off...I was not tired or weak, I was ready to walk and make this surgery work.

I don't have this. I did try to up the walking to jogging yesterday and I literally felt a staple move or something weird in the stomach area towards the back. Sticking with the long walks for now. I am fine on the elliptical. I love and hate that thing, it kicks my butt but I know it works.

I have a desk job and can work from home. I had surgery on a Monday, worked at home on a Thursday and then went back the following Tuesday, about a week later. I was completely fine.

I cannot believe it's been 5 weeks. It went by fast for me. At my appointment, my PA thinks I am not eating enough. She said to at least eat a piece of cheese or something to keep the metabolism steady. I have to watch myself, I'm not kidding when I say that all of this focus on weight is so close to an eating disorder. If I don't get my exercise in, it's ugly and I am all too aware of calories. Once I reach a good weight, I hope this stops. I don't feel it's healthy.

Congrats on your surgery! Know that you are not alone with the discomfort. I read too much post surgery about folks that had no problems, it got me really down. But as I looked more, there were folks like us. It was weird but on day 7 or 8, suddenly I could sit up with preparing for the inevitable pain and I could finally laugh again. I think what you are feeling may be normal for you. Every journey is different. But it's a cool one to see "dreams" come true.

I hate to be so dense, but what is your question? Is it Protein? Do you want suggestions? I think what you are experiencing this early is quite normal. Are you getting the walks in? I don't know why those things work so well, but they do. Maybe it will help with the hamstring. I admitted to my PA that I never got all protein in and she seemed unconcerned, she said sometimes it helps w/ hair, sometimes it doesn't so they don't really know what to think about that one - depends on the person. Well, she not say she was unconcerned, but this was not news to her (I'm not the only one) and I'm doing fine. At my three months they'll do a blood test to check Vitamins and stuff. I'll be curious about that one! Hey, I tried. Could not do the textures and then I found Isopure, worked for the first 12 drinks, now the second 12 just sit there. I'm sick of them.

Skim mozzarella string cheese. I usually have a bottle of frozen Water in a baggie so throw my string cheese in there to keep it cool.

I don't like frozen leftovers. But say take a pack of ground turkey, I roll it into 4-5 separate balls and freeze it. Thus, I use it to make small meals. I gained a lot of weight not wasting food, so if a little goes to waste that's okay with me. I'm funny about leftover so I try very hard to cook small serving portions.

Similarly, 4 - 6 weeks depending on when we get that one month visit in. It does't mean go crazy but we can try other foods. Since anything with carbs seems to disagree with me in a "where's the toilet kind of way," it easy to avoid that. I haven't changed much since given the clear. I hate that feeling when you just know this food is not going to end well.

I'm also 11 weeks out. I'm 5'1 and my BMI was about 36-37 with mild sleep apnea. My nurse practitioner and NUT told me to try to gain some weight during my six month approval time. My pre op after five day liquid diet was 198. I'm happy to say I'm down 37 lbs. my surgeon says I'm half way to his goal of 70 lbs total weight loss. I haven't exercised much either. I'm trying to fix that. All in all I'm thrilled with my life. I'm able to work 12 hours shifts on my feet, tie my shoes and cross my legs. Life is goood!!! 12 hour shifts on your feet is kind of a work out I'd say. My job is sedentary, I have to work out even before all of this or I felt yucky.

I don't know if I'm losing less weight with a lower BMI - I don't really think so. No, I'm not losing 60 pounds in a month b/c frankly, I'd be done w/ the process. I just decided to no longer post those stats after talking to my PA. Does more harm than good per my PA and I saw my PA's point. Something I did have to do was wear weights when being weighed and we lessened my height by a few inches. I was not willing to gain weight (I too was told such nonsense). I know some will find this troubling and I'm not an advocate of it but that made it so my other issues and "obesity" would allow surgery. I'm not a young woman, I knew I needed help. I have no idea what my real BMI was but it was not high enough without help. I think insurance companies cause this ridiculousness. I no longer take several meds. I actually lost weight running around wearing weights all over my body for weigh-ins. Ha! If you disagree, I understand. I do not need to hear about it though. What's done is done and I don't do internet flaming.

I just posted about the relief of the revisit.

I had my 4 week visit. My PA basically told me to stay off of the boards. She also noted something interesting, she has seen that men drop weight quicker initially. So, I'm losing as I should be, but the comparisons are simply unhealthy and sometimes untrue. I don't want to add to that. They want me to get Protein from food now. They're not a fan of shakes past 4 - 6 weeks b/c of the by products. So, I tried fish again. Big mistake. Fish just is not agreeable with this new stomach. It is the only food that revisits. I miss it though. Shrimp was okay - yeah! chicken is tough so I'm still doing my deli meats and cheese.

If only they knew......

Week four and I can't believe how quick it came. I don't weigh myself more than once a week and not when I have a doc's appointment, which I do this week. So, we'll see how that is, but I think things are moving along as expected. I can't eat much besides cheese and turkey deli meat with no discomfort. Other things lead to awkward feelings in the stomach esophagus region. I get my walks in everyday to every other day. With the recent heat, it tends to be a nightly event or super early in the morning. Socially, I'm struggling. Everything involves alcohol and food...I usually just sip Water but that is getting old! I'm looking forward to eating regular foods (small portions of course) b/c I've started to avoid events and that's not my personality!

I hope you feel better soon. I must admit, I'm not familiar with the drain on sleeve patients so that's a new one to me.