Sydney Little Merlette

I love the imagery of this photo. It's so important to just keep chipping away, take our time, and be methodical yet gentle with ourselves as we transform.

I love it that she's not in a hurry and she isn't frantic. She actually looks relaxed and content, like she knows she's transforming, knows she is beautiful and is content and comfortable within the process of change. She isn't desperate and she isn't racing to be different. She isn't busting off huge chunks of rock which could actually damage the final product of her labor of love.....her labor of self-love.

And while she is relaxed and chipping away do you notice that she is half-way done? With no struggle, no war against herself? She is half way there and the bits of rock all around her on the ground are a testament to her gentle, persistent drive toward transformation.

I think all of us who sometimes struggle to change faster choose ways that aren't always gentle or kind to speed things up. We can forget, me included, at times that the transformation is in the daily process of chipping, rather than a destination we arrive at when a certain number is achieved. This is an image worth studying periodically on our WLS journey. Are we as comfortable in the present moment of our journey as she is?

I am in the puréed phase and feeling the same thing. I was desperate to leave clear and then full liquids behind. But am now going through the same feelings again. Tonight at least I went out for dinner and just had Soup. I only had the broth, but being able to have some of that normalcy of ordering normal food, Even though I only had the liquid, really made it easier. I think for me it's finding A way to make it more normal, and less deprived will help get me through it. But it is VERY hard mentally to go through these phases,

I was sleeved on the 22nd. I'm only now feeling more human and actually showered! Lots of nausea and hunger!!! I wasn't really prepared for how hungry I would be. I am so glad to hear people doing well with no problems but I am struggling some. How are people getting their Protein (since I know this is what will help the hunger) without Protein shakes. My surgeon doesn't want us using them. Thanks and congrats to all who are doing well.

@@Sydney Little Merle the
I have also been struggling to get all my Protein in and have been down right HUNGRY! I was sleeved on the 23rd. It has been a rough road. I gave thought many times about testing my sleeve and trying to eat food. I haven't though and once I started passing gas (TO I I KNOW) and bowels moving. (Again TMI) I started feeling better, also moving more helps. But am still hungry! I am still very swollen as well. I actually weigh more now than the day of surgery. Only 5 lbs more, but still more. Hopefully this part will be over soon and we can move forward to happier, less hungry place. We can do this!!

I just thought of another one I could use: My insurance company believes that my health status is a concern and a liability. I agree with them. They are willing to pay for surgical intervention. Again, I agree with them as other methods have proven unsuccessful....ha! That one might be for co-workers, tho.....if/when it comes up...

I'm having my sleeve done on the 22nd of this month. What would you tell me is important for me to know or things you have learned post surgery? Feeling a little overwhelmed! Thanks!

It is tough at first, but it keeps getting better and better.
Foods get easier to take in. Water gets easier to drink (was such a struggle, could only sip water for the first couple months)
I'm now 5 months out, 331 pounds in March, 309 in June on the day of surgery, 220 pounds today. Aiming to get below 200, 6 foot tall, large frame body.

Hmmmm, Like lacowgirl I wish I hadn't stocked up so much on Jello and pudding. Who knew that a pudding cup would last me 2 servings??!! I'm also in agreement with the others that said don't stock up on Protein drinks because my favorite Protein Drink tasted gross to me after surgery. By the way, it is again my favorite but it took a few months for me to try it again. I wish I had known that adding a little something to my Water would help me get it down better. It seems that plain Water sat heavy on my tummy but just a little flavoring of any kind seemed to help with this (won't bore you with theories of the surface tension of water etc) but it did help me a lot. I wish I had a before picture. I wish someone would have told me that the Iron supplement they gave me in the hospital would turn my poop BLACK. Yikes....should warn a girl. And I wish someone would have told me that you CAN get constipated when you are only taking in fluids...who knew. I will NEVER let that happen again. not fun.
Good luck to you! Look forward to hearing more from you.

I wish that I didn't worry so much before. I read so much that I was convinced it was going to be a horrible and difficult process. I had a very smooth ride. I thought I was going to be in a lot of pain and that I wouldn't be able to do anything for several weeks after surgery. Nope...I felt great 4 days out. I spent 1 night in the hospital and didn't take any pain meds after I got home. I could have gone back to work within a week. I worried so much before hand that I wasn't doing something right or that something drastic and horrible would happen after! I read so many of these threads and was convinced I would have regrets and that I would never be the same again. So, my advice....keep in mind that a lot of people have questions and concerns so there are a lot of, kind of scary, posts if you take it all in. People who have it smooth sailing don't post as often...they have no concerns. I wish I would have thought about that or known that. I am exactly the same person emotionally and mentally that I was before surgery....I was convinced I would have a very difficult time dealing with the changes. Yes...I have had moments where I wanted a piece of cake or where I wanted to eat a huge plate of food....but, I whined a bit and then I sucked it up. I only have about 20% of the room I had before but you know what? I still eat well...I love the food I eat....I just eat less. Isn't that the whole point of this surgery? That's why I had it anyway. So...Overall I just wish I relaxed more.
Now for a more simple answer..... Don't over buy your Protein shakes. Buy as you need it because you will definitely hate some you loved before and love some you hated before Good news though....9 weeks out and I am eating the things that made my stomach roll when I first tried them. Nothing seems to be a problem for me.
Good Luck to you!!! Hope you are also one of the smooth sailors!!

Great comments I am due to be sleeved tomorrow.

That the foods I used to be able to eat are not longer allowed in my new tummy. Believe me, not by choice. In the beginning I had a lot of guest re-appearances.
Also, a few teaspoons of anything makes me feel like a ate an entire holiday meal. I never thought that would happen.

I really wish that I had measured myself everywhere for comparison. Oh well... Also have a great last meal!
HKMOM

Take deep breaths.... Vsg is tough initially. I'm hearing it will get easier. Try lots of Protein Shakes to find the one that clicks with you. Small baby steps. Listen to your sleeve and when you get a little queasy, stop eating.

I wish I had known that dropping a large amount of weight in such a short amount of time would be so emotionally taxing. In the beginning I found myself getting very angry or sad for no apparent reason. I felt like A crazy person because I didn't understand why I was so emotional.

This. Your body will adjust before your mind will. Just be prepared for that.

On a technical level I wish I had taken my measurements. I took a progress picture every month, which was great, and I have my weight records of course, but my only regret is that I didn't also track my inches lost. That can help when the scale isn't moving!
On an emotional level, I wish I had done some of the hard emotional work ahead of time dealing with emotional eating etc. Or at the very least I wish I would have read "When food is Love" which has been really important for me ....
Good luck!!

I had BCBS Regents. I did not have those high deductibles so I guess every plan is different. I paid $30 for each dr visit copy when preparing for the surgery. My actual surgery I had to pay about $600, some for the surgeon and the rest was for the hospital. It is very important to understand that out of pocket is different then deductible. And it is important to understand that contracts with each hospital and surgeon is very individual and specific to their agreement. If in doubt what you will pay contact your ins company and give them your surgeon and hospital names. They will tell you in more detail what your costs will be.

I wish I had known how common it is for the newly sleeved to have difficulty getting in all of the required Water and Protein in the early days. I was so afraid that I was doing something wrong, and later discovered that many, if not most post-ops had the same problems. It really helped me to stop worrying and trust the process.

Eat whatever you want and as much of it as you want!