CPArnold

i haven't checked in for awhile but am glad I did. I was sleeved 9/23 and lost about a pound a day until 5 or 6 days ago. Then I stalled! I've lost just about a pound in five days...Down 27 lbs. since surgery so I'm really pleased but just want it to keep falling off. I walk three miles 3 or 4 times a week but I'm not cleared to do more yet. I was so worried about my stall that I called the nutritionist at my surgeon's office. She acted like it was nothing to worry about. Said this is an 18 month process and losing weight as quickly as I was for the long term wasn't healthy. Made me feel better. I'm just anxious because we are going to Florida in November. I've got to lighten up on myself.

Had my surgery on 9/23. I feel better each day, but the gas is going to kill me. I think my surgeon emptied the entire canister of CO2 in my belly. I had a hernia that had to be repaired before the sleeve, so I have to think I'm more sore than I would normally be. At first, while in the hospital, the doctors kept asking me if I had started to pass gas. I didn't feel like I had any but they still kept asking. Now I know why!! It got really terrible on Friday. The incisions and muscle soreness are nothing compared to the gas moving around in there. Took my gas-x and it worked great but I realized yesterday that I have to continue to take it or the gas returns. I pureed some cream of mushroom Soup and that did not agree with me at all. I think it was just too rich after having nothing but broth for two weeks before surgery. Tasted great, but my tummy didn't like it. However, I am able to drink my Protein. I found one that I actually like (Goodness Mocha from Post) but it doesn't really have enough protein. So, I bought some plain protein and add a great big scoop to it. This puts the protein way up there and it actually tastes like a milkshake but not sickening sweet as I have found most Protein Drinks to be. Other than that, been drinking Crystal Lite. That's it. For chewable calcium, I take Caltrate D chewables. They have 40 mg of magnesium. Is that enough for your requirements? These are the ones my doctor said to take. Glad for the support on this site and to have contact with others going through the same thing. Hope everyone's day today is better than yesterday!!

I can't imagine cooking while I was on my pre-op diet!! My husband was on his own and I let him know that right from the start. I stocked the house with foods he likes and ones I knew he would actually fix for himself. You will only set yourself up for failure if you are handling foods you are not permitted to eat. When my husband was eating his dinner, I disappeared. I'd go into my art studio or lay on my bed watching the news. I'd show back up after dinner. If I had little kids, I'd ask for help from my family to see to it they were fed. Its only 2 weeks and I'm sure everyone knows a friend or family member that loves them enough to help them succeed.

I was sleeved on Tuesday. I came home yesterday and am feeling pretty good. Water made me nauseous at first but right now I'm sipping decaf tea. Warm liquids feel better to me than cold ones. For Braylor, don't be discouraged at losing just 10 lbs. They pump you so full of fluids while in the hospital that my fingers looked like sausages! I'm sure it takes a while for all the liquids to find their way out of your body. I, too, feel better each day. Finally starting to lose some of the gas. Didn't feel any til yesterday but my stomach was rumbling all night!! I'm sure I'll be much more comfortable without all that added pressure on my tummy. I had a hernia that had to be repaired, as well, so I'm guessing some of my soreness is as a result of that. Just going to keep on moving and pretty soon this phase will be a distant memory. Best of luck to all of you!!!

My surgery is almost here!!! I get my sleeve on Tuesday. I CANNOT WAIT!!! So darn excited. I'm so ready for this. Been doing liquids for 12 days now and even that doesn't bother me. My husband is nervous and scared, but I'm not. I didn't know I had sleep apnea until I had pre-op testing and come to find out I do. Can't wait to ditch my C-Pap machine the very minute I don't need it anymore. Having to wear that sexy thing was the last straw. Made want to do this even more. Good luck to everyone scheduled for this week...Our new lives can finally begin. YAY!!!

I think its safe to say that none of us WANT to do liquids for two weeks before surgery and two weeks after. It's not about what we WANT at this point. It's doing what is required of us to have the best possible outcome. I can't even think about two weeks of liquids after surgery. I can only concentrate on the five days I have left BEFORE surgery. I have no idea how I'll feel about it after the surgery, so I'm not going to worry about it. However, I'm certain that I'll be able to handle it. I have a feeling that this part is going to be easy compared to the changes we're all going to have to make after surgery in order to be healthy and thin. I have never spoken to anyone who's had the surgery that hasn't said this was the best thing they ever did. Time goes quickly and before you know it the liquids and pureed food, etc. will just be a memory. Just put on your big girl pants and do what your doctor requires. You'll be proud of yourself when it's all said and done.

Can't believe I'm not the only one. I have never had a calendar in my life until now. I have one on my refrigerator with all the dates for pre-op stuff and the date for my surgery. I've been crossing off the days! Just can't wait till Tuesday. My husband tries to talk to me about something important and I'll tell him I can't think right now - just have to get past my surgery. People ask me if I'm scared or nervous. NO!!! Too excited. I don't even mind my liquid diet...Can't believe I think broth is delicious and I actually like the crappy Jello I'm allowed to have. Heretofore I have always hated Jello. Could the transformation have begun?

Day 8 of Clear liquids pre-op diet!!! Yay! Only 6 more till surgery on the 23rd. I am so excited I can hardly stand it. Can't wait...I'm totally looking forward to feeling differently about food. I can honestly say I was sick of food. I did eat normally until the two week pre-op began, but I can't say I really enjoyed all the things I ate before. I felt like my foods were habit. I don't want to be hungry all the time. The last diet I did was 5 years ago with a doctor and I took Phentermine. I was not hungry at all. Lost about 55 lbs. and was working out all the time. I did fine until I couldn't take the Phentermine anymore. Then I was hungry all the time again. At my first appointment with my surgeon my husband asked why this surgery was going to work for me when I have never been able to keep my weight off before. The doctor's simple answer was that some people, including me, are hungrier than others. My husband wasn't trying to be mean, he just didn't understand how this was going to work when nothing else has (he's fit and trim and very disciplined - never had any weight issues). I see this as my last chance. When I had to list all my diets on my initial paperwork, it was ridiculous. I didn't even try anymore on my own because I knew it wouldn't last longterm. So, if I don't want the foods I used to eat, GOOD!!! They got me here - taking blood pressure medicine, sleeping with a C-Pap attached to my face that I hate, along with about four other medications for miscellaneous health issues. I don't want this life anymore so whatever it takes I will do willingly. The two week pre-op prep has not been nearly as bad as I thought it would be and I am not permitted anything that resembles normal food. Only clear liquids, Jello, Protein shakes, Crystal Lite. Pretty restrictive but its only for 2 weeks. A much shorter time than it took me to get to 237 lbs.!!! We have a trip to Sarasota to visit our son, daughter-in-law and 5 month old baby grandson in November and I intend to have to buy a new bathing suit when I get there. I have started to buy smaller clothes and have a drawer in my dresser where I have them stashed. It helps me stay focused. I want to be around to play with my darling little grandson and I don't want to be the fat grandmother!!! I think maybe what I'm trying to say is that we have to keep in mind all the great things that wait for us after we lose weight and get healthier. We can all do this.

I'm now on day 7 of pre-op liquids. Six more to go. I am really not hungry because I have what I'm allowed at the first sign of hunger. I have to drink 4 Protein shakes per day. I don't mind them, but hate the aftertaste. I discovered that if I eat the sugar free Jello after the shake it takes away the aftertaste. Yesterday I had to go to my sleep doctor in Philly - 1 1/2 hours away and wanted to do some shopping on my way home. I took a cooler with everything I would normally eat during the time period I would be gone. It worked out fine. I love my broth and went to Trader Joe's and expanded the kinds of broth I have on my pantry shelf. Now have Miso Ginger, Mushroom and Veg to add to my chicken and beef. The up side is I have lost about one pound a day! That makes me happy. Maybe my doctor wants two weeks of liquids to shrink my liver AND to give my weight loss a boost going into the surgery. Maybe he's working on my head a little bit and teaching me that I CAN do this and helping me get used to eating less. I have to think he has a very good reason for everything I have had to do. He is an excellent surgeon at one of the finest teaching hospitals in the country. I believe he is having me do all this because he wants the best possible outcome for me. If I didn't believe he was the best doctor I would find, I wouldn't be going to him! No one said this was going to be easy but I believe the outcome will be well worth it.

Congrats! Good to hear how those that have surgery are feeling so the rest of us know what to expect. I get sleeved one week from today! Can't wait!!! Best of luck and keep us posted on your success.

I wasn't going to tell anyone either. My husband, of course, and my mother and sister. That was about it. But I have found, as time goes by, that I do tell some people. Just depends on the feeling I get from them. If someone wants to tell me about someone they know that didn't have a great result, I just cut them off. Don't need negativity right now but I'm pretty good at steering the conversation. I just tell them that I've done my homework and I'm confident with my surgeon. Also that I don't really feel as though I have a choice. I used to be fat but healthy and it was okay with me. Now I'm on several medications and have never been able to keep weight off. I've been working on this all summer and just told our son in Florida today. We are going to visit him and his awesome wife and baby boy in November and I just wanted to surprise them. Then I decided that that really wasn't fair and that they deserve to know. If anyone EVER suggest that this is an easy fix, I think I may slap them. This is far from the easiest thing I've ever done. Weight Watcher was easy....This is having most of your stomach removed after two weeks of nothing but liquids. Even cat food smells good at this point. We all deserve to be healthy and happy.

I'm on day 5 of liquids. Thought I'd lose it yesterday when I had to go into a grocery store but I managed. I have to have 4 Protein Shakes a day for at least a total of 80 grams of Protein. I can have decaf drinks, Crystal Lite, sugar free popsicles, broth (thank God cause it's the only savory thing on the menu). Have to do this for 2 weeks. It's only really hard when I smell what my husband is making for dinner. So I find something else to do and leave the room. Today I cleaned my closet and drawers to keep busy. It was fun. I have all sizes of clothes and I can actually look forward to wearing some of them again. I also got rid of some of my really big things. I could wear them around the house, but I don't think its a good idea for me. I've also been buying smaller clothes a little at a time. Keeps me focused. I have them all together in my closet and I love to check them out every once in a while. I'm just trying to fill my time with positive thoughts until the 23rd. Doing this is a challenge, but one I'm embracing. WE CAN ALL DO THIS!!! Just need to help each other along.

BTW, I forgot to mention that I've lost 5 lbs. on the liquids...about a pound a day. I'll take it! I actually have more energy, too. Been walking each day, too - something my surgeon requires.

I'm scheduled for the 23rd as well. Can't wait. My doctor requires TWO WEEKS of liquids. I started on Tuesday. All was well till I had to make a trip to the grocery store for a couple of things. I had been out for awhile and was hungry (should have brought a protein shake with me) and everything looked good to me, even things I don't typically like! Couldn't wait to get home. I got it under control though. Had some chicken broth after my protein shake. Just keep telling myself I can do anything for two weeks. And my husband has been great. He makes his own dinner and I keep busy making jewelry. So happy for all of you who are recovering from surgery today. I'm pretty sure this is a club no one wants to be in, but you couldn't ask for a more supportive group of people. Glad I found this place....

My surgeon required 2 weeks of liquids. Today is day 2...I am soooo ready to do this. Looking forward to not being hungry all the time.

I'm scheduled for September 23. Today is my first day of pre-op prep. Not as hungry as I thought I'd be so I'm happy. I can't wait for the 23rd!!! I am still trying to find a protein drink that tastes good to me. I like the idea of protein that has no flavor at all because I find some to be way too sweet. Glad to be in touch with others in the same boat as me.