FrankyG

I'm coming up on 4 weeks after my surgery, and been stalled out for over a week (and showing a slight gain) and I'm so happy to read this! I knew it was a stall, but it is so discouraging to be trying to do everything (eat protein, get your water, exercise) and see the scale just sit there or go the wrong way - even if you know the reason for it, it still blows.

I had my surgery on 12/18 and currently on mushy foods, and stalled in the weight loss - it actually looks like I gained two pounds and it's quite depressing. I'm tired and not getting much exercise other than some walking. I've lost about 20 pounds total since I started the pre-op diet, and I'm having trouble eating enough - only managing about 800 calories a day, so I'm sure that's part of it, but it's so discouraging. I'm getting most of my Water in, and eating as well as I can, but it's still a struggle. And I'm almost wanting to cry because I was really looking forward to homemade chili tonight, but my husband made it so spicy I can't eat it because it burns so bad. I don't regret getting the surgery, but I can't believe how little I've lost and how poor my progress has been.

I'm on the mushy foods phase, and I'm sort of sad since I can't seem to get enough food in to hit my minimum goal (averaging 800 calories, the NUT wants me at 1400), and I also have stopped losing weight - so my first stall. I'm also having a dull backache in my lower back coming and going, but almost every day. I think it's from sitting or walking too much, but it might be a UTI. I've got a regular doc appointment this coming Friday so I'll ask for them to check then. I've been out a few times, but my stamina is so low I tire out fast. I'm a bit worried as I go back to work tomorrow, but it's a desk job so at least I'll be able to stay put if I'm really tired.

Yes, my husband dieted along with me since the pre-op diet, and he's changed over to a paleo-like diet, which is what I'll be shooting for after I'm back on regular foods. So in three weeks, he's lost 12 pounds just through diet alone. He's pretty happy about it too.

Tums won't work as well for what you're probably experiencing; Prevacid24HR is available over the counter at most pharmacies so you could just go get some of that (or ask the pharmacist - they are extremely knowledgeable and great with helping on this stuff). I was told as long as the pill was smaller than your pinky finger's nail you can take it at any stage, but I would think at 5 weeks out, you'd be fine taking pills now.

Try deep breathing exercises (using a spirometer - my doc sent me home with one) or like this: Take a slow, deep breath, inhaling until your lungs are completely full, hold it for about 5-7 seconds and then purse your lips like you're blowing up a balloon - to exhale slowly and completely. Repeat at least 3-5 times. You should be doing this sort of thing anyway after surgery every couple of hours for the first week/10 days to both relax your diaphragm and to encourage your lungs to work well after surgery. Make sure you're not drinking/eating too fast. Take some antacids as well - if your doc didn't prescribe any, you can get the gas x strips (using 2 at a time is fine I think) or liquids like mylanta or chewables to relieve gas and acid stomach.

I have Hashimoto's Thyroiditis (autoimmune disorder that causes hypo) and I was sleeved Dec. 18th. So far, I've been doing okay with the loss. I was 20 lbs down on my 10 day appointment, and the doc said that was a good amount for the time period. Still early days though.

Popsicles! They seriously saved me the first couple of days. The cold seemed to lessen the tightness from the swelling and I finally was getting liquids in. I was doing sugar free ones, but my doc said they didn't care if they were full sugar or what in the early days since you're going to be so low on total calories anyway, a little sugar or fat would help. It gets better fast - hang in there!

I had two layers of bandages. Top layer was a large bandage, they said I could take them off after 3 days, but the steri-strips underneath needed to stay on until my first follow up appointment. Two of them fell off before then, so I put bandaids on to keep them from getting rubbed by clothing, and the doc took off the others the day of the checkup. She said I could leave a bandaid on the one that is up on my bra line (where my underwire would rub it) until it was completely healed and not in danger of getting rubbed raw from wearing a bra. I had no external stitches or staples - all glued shut. No drain sites either. I had an internal stitch where they pulled out the stomach part tho.

I am dying for a hot bath... had my first follow-up appointment on Monday (11 days past surgery) and the doc said that as soon as the scabs fall off, I can take one. I've only have one left that scabbed over, all the rest are pretty much healed up to the point that there are no scabs (hooray!).

The bruising thing seems to be normal too. I had the same thing happen about a day after surgery, especially around the area they removed the excess stomach and where I was getting heparin shots.

I had the strips, but my doc told me they don't work as well. He said that the best gas relief would be the liquids/drops - even the ones for children can just up the dosage (he even mentioned Mylicon). He also told me that any pills smaller than my pinky fingernail are fine to take with a sip of Water, but I waited a few days to try since I wasn't sure they still wouldn't get stuck.

I just had my sleeve surgery last week, and while I've had minimal pain/discomfort, I still have momentary "what the hell did I just do" thoughts float through my head. Seeing the size of the stomach section that is removed is just amazing - if my stomach was even half that size, then no wonder I couldn't get my portion sizing and ravenous hunger/binge eating under control - that is HUGE! Thanks for posting these pics - it really puts it in perspective for me!

My husband followed my pre-op diet with me, and now has modified it to be a paleo diet. He's losing weight (12 pounds so far in under 2 weeks) and pretty happy about it! He just needs to lose around 40 more pounds, so surgery wasn't as needed for him. We're both researching recipes now and pretty excited about losing weight and getting healthy together.

Keep thinking positive and wishing you lots of good luck vibes!

I had my hiatal hernia/sleeve surgery on the 18th - same exact thing happened to me. Lump in my throat after just a few sips of anything, LOTS of burping, and I was even getting foamies and throwing up. I started eating popsicles - sugar free ones - and I was able to get a whole one down in under 20 minutes. The cold seemed to help with the swelling too. Today, the lump went away completely (ate another popsicle for breakfast) and I'm fine with drinking the Protein shakes now.

So my surgery was Thursday and I was sent home Friday, and I can barely do two tiny sips of any liquid before I get dull shooting pains and feel a big lump in my throat. (had a small hiatal hernia repaired too) Doc said I was really swollen, but I'm concered if this doesn't go down a little bit in the next day or so I'm going to be severely dehydrated! I've gotten the foamies and thrown up just from 1 ounce of liquid over about a half hour.

Something started improving overnight... I was able to eat an entire sugar free popsicle without throwing up. I just had one this morning, and same thing. The lump in my throat is easing so I'll be able to get some fluids in hopefully besides the popsicles. I figure it was a combo of it being cold enough to reduce the swelling a little, and finally getting something into my stomach, but I'm feeling much better today. (still weak as can be tho) Thank goodness as I was getting concerned I'd have to go in to get fluids by IV!

I'm throwing up even on ice chips. I can sip a tiny bit and then a lump forms and then I throw up. And I can't stop burping either. I'm still using the bathroom okay so far - urine isn't concentrated and going about 4 times a day so I must be getting some fluids down, but the fact that my restriction is so tight that even a small ice chip causes discomfort/pain is very concerning. I'm going to try to make it through tomorrow and if it hasn't gotten better, I'll call my doc to see if I need to go get IV fluids. I guess this is better than having pain, but I really don't want to have to go back to the hospital!

Mine is tomorrow, and I still haven't gotten a call about what time to be there! I'm going to call them if they don't call me in the next ten minutes. Like I need to worry about them forgetting to schedule me! Otherwise just gathering up a few things to bring to the hospital - toothbrush, book, phone charger, pillow....

Went through the exact same thing. I have swung from being ready to go right then, to thinking I'm crazy for thinking this is a good idea. But I'm through the worst part of worry and pretty much excited to get this done and get on with the next part of my life! The worried part doesn't completely go away (it IS surgery after all) but you get to the point where the excited part outweighs the worry. And the more you read and research and ask questions, the better you'll feel about your decision. Knowledge is power! Read the threads here, ask your questions - I think every single person on here has gone through this too. BIG hugs and good luck with your preop diet and upcoming surgery!

Started out a bit unsupported, but we talked through everything and he's come around to thinking this is a good thing for the both of us and is on board. I'm still worried that he'll not find me as attractive, but not worried enough to not go through with the surgery. While I am concerned about what I'll end up looking like, the main reason is I'm tired of not being able to go out and do things like horseback riding, biking and hiking. I don't want to have joint replacement surgery (like my mother) due to weight issues. I don't want to deal with high blood pressure or diabetes as I age and get fatter. I want to be healthy and get out there and enjoy life again! I never had to deal with the outright sabotage you're dealing with, and I would definitely suggest sitting down with her (and maybe a counselor?) and talking through all of her worries and insecurities and how this is for your health and wellbeing. But her being that blatant about trying to mess up your weight loss speaks volumes about her being VERY insecure and possibly a red flag on the longevitity of your relationship after WLS if she doesn't come around and stop being a hinderance instead of supportive. So sorry you're dealing with this! ETA: saw this in the recent posts before I noticed what forum section it was in; hope it was still okay to give an opinion!

So what is stopping you from saying exactly that? Sounds like they don't understand they're the problem, not you. Sometimes you do have to speak up and stand up for yourself!

So sorry your mom made you feel bad. She's not right for that - and she's kind of a jerk for not being supportive of your decision or at least keeping her mouth shut if she couldn't think of anything nice to say. Just because you are related to a person, doesn't mean they have the right to treat you poorly. This is not the easy way out - that would be staying fat for the rest of your (shortened) life! I am so mad that people think this decision is easy! I honestly wouldn't tell your mom anything else unless you think through first how she could twist it up or use it as a weapon/reason to judge you - if it is something sensitive or that you are worried about, don't tell her because she is only going to make you feel bad and that is the last thing you need in your life. She doesn't sound like a very nice person, so maybe pulling back and keeping your relationship with her light and superficial (like you would with a causal friend) would make it easier to deal with her and have her in your life. I haven't told anyone but my husband and my mom, and fortunately my mother was very supportive - she said she wishes she had done something like this when she still had a chance before her health got really bad, and that she knows it isn't an easy decision and she was really supportive. She did tell my sister without asking me if that was okay (I live several states away, so sister would not have found out I had even lost weight for months unless I told her). And I'm a bit miffed about that as sister is a flake and I had not planned on telling her. But I did tell my mom to not do things like that without checking with me in the future.

I haven't had my surgery yet, but it sounds like you're still healing and had a bad start with the dehydration. So sorry you're dealing with all of this! Hope someone with some experience chimes in with some insight for you.