ShellMilliner

You're doing awesome. Please don't let their comment get you down. All losses are victories!

Hello all! I've been lurking and reading for a couple months and now that I have my insurance approval, and have my date scheduled I guess it is time to get active here! I will be having a DS on April 1st, yep April Fool's Day at Orlando Regional Medical Center. My surgeon is Dr. Muhammad A. Jawad of the Bariatric & Laparoscopy Center. I am so excited to start this journey and scared to death at the same time. I'm a mom of two wonderful children (6 y/o girl and 2 y/o boy), they are my most important motivation for having this surgery. I want nothing more than to live a long, healthy life and be there for them as they grow up! A quick question for all you pro's out there. How long did it take you to get up and moving around normally (maybe not completely painfree but really able to function)? I understand everyone heals differently but I imagine there is a median time-frame. Thanks, looking foward to chatting with others the closer I get! Best, Michelle

I haven't noticed a change to fish, but I was a big coffee drinker prior to surger at least 4 cups/day. Now I have no desire, except following a dinner out with my hubby last Friday I kinda wanted some or so I thought. I took 2 sips and ewww...it just didn't taste good at all! Crazy...it still smells good but I just don't want it. I also really don't crave sweets either. I generally grill my fish. Mostly because I don't like the house smelling fishy. I usually grill salmon or mahi mahi. There are some great receipes on pinterest. One of my favorites is a spice grilled salmon with avocado. https://www.pinterest.com/pin/257901516136176465/ You could also poach tilapia or turbot in dry white wine, a little butter, lemon and capers. Salmon cakes/patties are pretty yummy too!

Yes, I'm 5 weeks out and have been slowly adding spice back in. I love spicy foods, so I'm hoping my stomach (what's left of it) has memory of the heat.

@@ssourgirl What great news! I'm so glad they were able to get it. Now that the pesky critter is outta there, I'm praying that she will bounce back quickly and start her recovery. Hang in there mama!

@hikergirl14 Fingers crossed with you! Your post op was similar to mine. 3 days Clear Liquids, days 4-14 full liquids then 14- 30 soft foods. Yay for muscle relaxants! I'm glad you're getting relief. All the hormones and changes are stressfull enough withou having other stuff to deal with. @SaraM8705 I've been at a stall for a littl over 2 weeks now, but the scale is finally moving again. I've really pushed to get my Protein and Water in the past couple days and I think it is paying off. With the DS and the SADI/SIPS you usually are in the hospital for about 3 days since there is a bit more rerouting going on. Which was okay with me, because I had plenty of help if I needed it and a great nursing assistant that kicked my butt out of bed and made sure I walked every 2 hours. Of course you don't get any sleep in a hospital but the staff I had was absolutely amazing. I think I had better care on the bariatric unit than I did for either my two C-sections!

@@Band07 @aelovelady Each surgeon is different I had staples used to close the port sites (external). Just like I had staples when I had both C-Sections. @Allenby I think at 22 days you may run the risk of the skin healing to the staples. I would definitely call and ask to have them out sooner. Most of mine sutures were healed by the 10 day mark (my appt was moved up because the doc had a schedule change) they were intially going to be removed at 13 days. I would think by 15 you would be well healed. As for scarring there is a product called Mederma that works pretty well on reducing the appearance of scars. You can start applying it once the staples are out and the wound is completely closed. It takes a few months (2x/day) but it does work. I used it following a knee surgery I had years ago and I'm currently using it on my scars and my daughter's scar under her chin.

Applebee's has a weight watcher's menu (at least they did) that is probably your best bet. I'm not sure what your guidance is but at 7 weeks I'm allowed to transistion to regular foods, so your Beans should be just fin. I'm not sure I would try ribs for the first time at a restaraunt, you don't want to risk getting sick while out. I would save first time foods especially ones that tend to be fatty and greasy for home. I'm sure they have a grilled chicken on their menu, I can't imagine a full service restaraunt that doesn't.

I can't say for bypass, (I had the SADI laproscopic) but I imagine healing is similar. I had my post-op and staples out at 10 days. One of the areas where a port was opened back up a bit after they were pulled so we just did steri-strips for another few days. The rest were well healed.

I had tests twice. The first time was right after my first visit with the surgeon. I had blood work, psych eval, ultrasound of liver and gall bladder and an EKG. The Friday before my surgery (on Wed) I had another EKG because the first was a couple months old, blood work, urinalysis, chest xray, met with the NUT (again), the surgeon's lead nurse, the surgeon, and the anestesia nurse.

@hikergirl14 I ended up having the SADI procedure. Feeling down is so completely normal. I still have ups and downs. The spasms and the aching could be gas pains. Make sure you are walking. I try to get out and walk every night and usually take a short stroll at work as well. It really helps move things along. And you are right it will pass and will get better. Have you talked to your doc about the pain? How is your post-op diet going?

Over the weekend (I'm 5 weeks out, SADI procedure) I had a half a slice of well toasted (WhiteWheat) bread with my scrambled egg to make a mini sandwich. I did not experience any discomfort and I savored my Breakfast very slowly. I did notice a bit more cravings that day and the next. So it is definitely a trigger that should be avoided if you are in a weak state to resist.

Losing those inches! It feels great to force yourself into something to big or have to shop for a new smaller size huh? Not really wierd. Remember fat takes up more space in your body. One pound of fat is profuse and floppy while one pound of muscle is compact and tight. Embrace it!

I really didn't experience much pain. I had the SADI procedure so I was in the hospital for 3 days. They used a local anestesia in the incision areas that lasts about 96 hours so I never had site pain. I had an NG tube for the first 24 hours or so and that alleviated a considerable amount of the gas pain. I got up and walked every 2 hours to help move the gas. I was tired but forget about sleep in a hospital, they will poke you and prod you every couple of hours anyway. I couldn't wait to get home to get a full night's rest! The only pain I really had was the JP drain tube, the night before I was released it started hurting once it was removed the next day, huge difference. I was prescribed Tylenol with Codine for home and I took it before bed the first couple nights just to help me sleep. Don't let your mind start perceiving something that may never happen (I know easier said than done). But there is truth in having a positive outlook and attitude.

Exactly, what CowgirlJane stated. The pre-op diet is all about shrinking your liver not weigh loss at this point. Eliminating carbs and fats will shrink your liver quickly. You caught yourself, now stop beating yourself up and get back on your horse. You are almost there!

I avoided using a straw for the first 2 weeks or so following surgery. I now use one nearly daily as I find I tend to drink more and more often when sipping from a straw vice a cup or sports bottle. I have never experienced any ill side effects. I think it might be one of those things that varies with people and the only way to know is to try it. Note, I do just sip not gulp or take big swigs.

You look amazing! Congratulations on your sucess!

Exactly what @@Teachamy said. Fatty tissue is globulous and takes up space while lean muscle is compact. Yes a pound still equals a pound however a pound of fat takes up more space on your body. So as you burn fat and accumulate lean muscle your weight can fluctuate. The great besides toning and better fitting clothes...the more lean muscle you have the more calories your body continues to burn even at rest, because muscle requires more fuel! You're doing great!

So glad today was a better day for you both. Here's to brighter days ahead!

Take it or leave it here are two points. 1) The reason that EVERY doctor you know the ones that went to med school and specialized in this area provide guidance for a diet is to help you sleeve heal! Did you know that bread, meat can and do get caught in the healing staples of your new stomach and can cause ulcerations? It isn't about oh, I didn't get sick or throw up and mmmm, that sure tasted good. It can be days or weeks that pass as a fistula forms or a staple begins a leak. But let's toss aside science for a minute. How did you get over weight in the first place? Did you follow the rules of a healthy lifestyle? Likley not. Know that WLS is NOT a miracle cure for your weight. If you are already going to fall on old habits then you may just be setting yourself up for failure in the future. I suggest calling your NUT or doctor if you are as confident as you feel and telling them what you are doing and asking them for their opinion. 2) I alluded to this in the first point. WLS isn't magic. You have to work just as hard to keep the weight off once you hit goal. It is a tool and if you aren't already willing to follow basic rules for your HEALING process. What makes you think you won't skirt the rules all throughout? You have been given very sound advice by many long time WLS experience people. You said it all happened so fast you didn't think about it. I'm sorry but if you put yourself through a MAJOR life changing surgery and didn't think it through that is a real issue. Time to do some soul searching on why you did this in the first place. Good luck and seriously you do need to tell your doc or NUT at your follow-up I'd hate for them to be set up for a malpractice suit because you were non-compliant.

@ssourgirl Keep pushing them. Talk to everyone about what you want done. Remember, the squeaky wheel gets the grease. Stay strong mamma!

@for_me In addition to everything that was mentioned here you need to retrain your brain. You are NOT on a diet. You completely re-wired your body now you need to re-wire your brain. You will have many stalls throughout your weight loss. I stalled for 3 solid weeks, the scale just started moving again yesterday. Remember, following WLS you will have an initial plunge in weigh BUT after that MOST people lose 1-2 lbs/week. WLS is not a magicwand that will make it all fall off overnight or even in a month or two. Most of the higher losses you hear of people that have lost 100 lbs in 6-8 months were much heavier than you at the start. As long as you are getting the your nutritional requirements outlined by your doctor's practice it will work. Is a stall frustrating? Absofreakinglutely! Will your weightloss restart again? Absofreakinglutely, you just need to keep going.

I wanted to just send a quick thank you to everyone for their wise words and support. Last week was my first full week back at work and it went much better than I thought. I think being kept busy made all the difference. Yes, i did get tired toward the end of the week, but really who doesn't? I'm getting better with getting the Protein in, though my go-to Premier Protein pre-mixed has not been my friend lately, it seems to start turning my stomach about 3/4 through so that's when I call it done. And I've finally almost reached the 64 oz of Water. I'm hitting about 52-56 now. Amazing how just over a month ago I would drink 128 oz (sometimes more) without thinking about it. Each day is different than the last, some better than others but I'm learning to take it all in stride. I've also told myself if I don't reach my goals one day it is okay and I'll work harder the next. Thank you all again! Shell

@@MaggieinNC - I'm not that far out from my surgery (just over 4 weeks) and most foods that I've tried at this t don't give me any problems. Every doctor varies their plan a bit with foods and timing but this was/is my post-op schedule. Once cleared with the swallow test you begin days 1-3 on clear liquids. broth, SF Jello, SF popcicles, Water (you can add crystal lite, lemon, etc...) Days 4 -14 Full liquids. Cream of wheat or rice, SF applesauce, yogurt, Protein shakes, cream soups (strained), ricotta cheese, cottage cheese, milk, some pureed fruits or baby food, scrambled egg, mashed sweet or white potato Days 14 - 31 Soft foods (think things that can be cut easily with the side of your fork or spoon). Shredded chicken, tuna, egg salad, crab, fish, shrimp, scallops, mango, soft fruits without skin or seeds, softened veggies (cooked carrots, green Beans, squash). NO raw veggies, nuts Regular diet - Try only one new food at a time (chew, chew, chew and eat slowly). Remember to limit carbs and focus on protein first, veggies, then carbs. I have sampled several things but I haven't tried steak yet. I still seem to need my meats very moist. I usually eat chicken breasts or seafood. I did have boston market meatloaf the other day and my tummy wasn't happy afterward. I'm guessing they use a lot of fillers in their meatloaf mix. I was at the Kennedy Space Center yesterday and for lunch I ordered a cheese burger, no bun, with grilled mushrooms and onions. It was a bit dry so some mustard and mayo helped. I was able to eat about 3-3.5 oz. Feel free to message me if you want to talk directly. Congratulations on your decision! Best, Shell

Good to know! Thanks for the heads up!