GeminiSleever

Hi, I'm looking for a sleeve support buddy in the south jersey area. I'm getting sleeved on February 9th so I'm still quite new to the process. Having a tough time with the temptations during this liquid pre-op phase. The most I've "cheated" is having progresso 99% fat free vegetable soup a couple of days for dinner. Luckily I am still consistently losing daily. I'm at work now surrounded by people who are chowing down on Thai food and meatball subs. It's torture really. I would love to have a buddy/mentor to keep me motivated and on task, and to just go through the process with me in general.

Burlington County (edgewater park). If anyone is starting a jersey group, count me in

Hi, I'm eight days post-op and today I noticed that when I stand up there is a hard lump on the left side of my abdomen. It's at the incision site below the breast. It is sore when I press on it, but no more or less sore than the rest of my left side. Is this something I should possibly be concerned about or is this a by-product of getting sleeved?

I'm doing great @@svelija!! Probably would be doing even better if I could stomach the protein shakes LOL

February 9th. Feeling great!! Protein is a challenge. Thank goodness for purées coming up because these shakes are the pits. I'm emailing my nutritionist to ask if I can start cottage cheese two days early as a protein supplement.

How is everyone doing since their sleeves?

I am interested in joining the group. Info please

I get you completely. I'm 11 days post-op and starving. I'm sitting here with a disgusting protein shake in my hand that I've been nursing for about an hour now. Can't get it down. Every shake is more disgusting than the last. I start purées/Mushies finally on Sunday. Cannot wait to have tuna salad.

1. How do you feel? Any issues? No issues, I feel great! 2. How is your water/protein intake? Water intake is fine, Protein is an issue. I haven found a powder that I can really tolerate. Headed to Walmart this morning to try out some ready-to-drink protein. 3. Have you had your first follow-up appt? How did it go? If not, when is your appt? I had a follow-up with my pcp yesterday and it went great. Have not had a follow-up with the surgeon yet. 4. What stage food are you on (full liquids, purees, etc.)? Full liquid right now (so sick of soup!!) i switch to purées on Sunday, as per the calendar for my plan. 5. Have you hit buyer's remorse yet or still glad you did it? 50/50. I miss being able to eat, although I know this is temporary. I keep wondering if I should have tried harder to lose the weight myself. On the other hand, I'm excited about what's ahead for me now that I have this tool at my disposal for weight loss. 6. Lastly - how much have you lost since the surgery? I am only getting on the scale on Sundays. Last checked, it was just under 10lbs since date of surgery.

I'm 11 days out and I don't need to slow sip anymore. I don't gulp or guzzle. But I can take repeated swallows of water with no issue. Can't wait to start using straws again!

You're human, it happens. I was on the liquid pre-op diet for two weeks, with the only solid allowed being raw veggies with no dip or dressing. I was very low energy not only for work, but for the 2.5 hour commute each way. I had progresso 99% fat free Soups for dinner a couple of nights. Two nights before surgery, I went out with my family to TGI Fridays and got the sizzling chicken under 500cal meal. I subbed out the mozzarella salad for steamed broccoli to make the cal count even lower. On the day before surgery, I had a small wonton Soup for lunch. I did inform my nutritionist and she said that the occasional divergence from the pre-op plan would likely not harm me. Sure enough, I had lost a decent amount of weight by the time I had surgery and the surgeon told me that my liver looked great! Now I'm not advocating for cheating in the least. I'm just saying that you're human and you're going to slip now and again. It's not the end of the world. Just make sure that post-op you stick to the plan. Otherwise, you may physically harm yourself.

@@Kellsbells I went to the doctor this afternoon and you were right about the hematoma. Awesome nursing skills!!

@@Kellsbells thanks so much for your response. Yours sounds about the same size as mine. And I guess since this was my very first surgery it wouldn't be scar tissue.

Thanks! I suspected scar tissue as a possibility, it just feels so weird. T disappears when I lay down but I'm very aware of it when I'm standing upright

Amazing transformation!! You look great!

Welcome!! Good luck to you on your journey to a new life!!

32. I thought about it a few years ago but I wasn't mentally prepared for the challenge of such a huge life change until the past few months.

Thanks @whirlwhen! It is the fear of causing physical harm to myself that has kept me from breaking the diet. If I can get through the next four days, I'm home free to the mushy foods phase. I'm actually looking forward to dining on cottage cheese and apple sauce. It was a frequent breakfast even pre-sleeve.

Good luck!! Speedy healing vibes!

LOL I'm not too worried about it. I have a pretty full head of hair. But if I lose it, that's what wigs and weaves are for. My aunt lost most of her hair to alapecia and it's now a horse shoe pattern. You'd never know it after she gets it styled at the salon. Her hair always looks amazing. There are many many ways around baldness.

I also had a rough day three. It was my first day home, the first day I had attempted to take fluids orally, and the day I dry heaved for nearly 24 hours. I also felt that fullness and restriction. Day four was a little less. Day five is when I truly started to recover. I'm now on day 7. Hang in there! It does get better and better each day. It doesn't feel like it in the middle of suffering, but it truly does.

Im glad to hear I'm not the only one going through this!! Last night I was enjoying a delicious bowl of carrot soup (4-5oz) and speaking on the phone to a Sleever friend of mine about not knowing when I feel full and stopping while I eat for fear that I'm unknowingly full. She told me that my body would react negatively when it's had enough. Sure enough, I stood up and felt like I had a boulder in my belly. I also had horrible gas pain in my back. The feeling passed rather quickly (in under five minutes) but I could only imagine it would be much worse if I were on solids.

@@whirlwen thanks so much for the encouragement! I admire your strength being able to sit there and watch others enjoying a meal that you couldn't partake in yourself. I just wasn't ready for that. I've had such a long relationship with food that this is starting to feel like an ugly divorce. I have been talking to a friend of mine who was sleeved in September and she told me that, to Celebrate being released to real foods, she gave herself a little party for one. She made a plate of sample sized tastings of some of her favorites. And afterward she was both full and satisfied. I just may do that when I get to five weeks out.

I'm so glad to hear that you're feeling great! Physically I feel good too. But I'm at the point right now where I have SOME regret. My family is visiting from out of town for the weekend and twice I had to avoid joining them for meals out because I can't eat. I just left a gathering because everyone was having Chinese food and the smell was making me wish I was eating it too. I know that eventually I won't regret it, especially when I get to the point of being able to eat again. But this part is super hard.

Prayers for all who are going in this week!! My hopes for a speedy and uncomplicated recovery