natnat919

HAHAHA, a Pig Pickin' is a southern thing. I'm from NC and it's pretty common. Actually it's pretty disgusting, so if you're squeamish then stop reading. A huge cooker (like a typical BBQ grill only much larger, (about 4 feet wide and 8 feet long, approx) is set up and a (dead) Pig is put on it to cook. Generally, these pigs have an Apple in their mouth (rednecks do that, LOL). Then it's cooked all day....... then the chef splits open his belly and pulls out the pork and we eat it. Anyone ever heard of Pulled Pork? That's exactly how it's done, only usually behind the scenes and not right in front of you. Most people who have Pig Pickins' have the cooker way off to the side and no one sees the pig, thank goodness. They'll pull off a lot of the cooked pork and put it in a large serving dish. I couldn't handle having that little pig's face staring at me!!!

The surgeon's PA called it "Neurogenic Bladder", if you want to google it.

Thanks for confirming I'm not losing my mind. I thought the same thing, my big belly isn't sitting on my bladder any more, it makes logical sense to me. But, the PA said she had never heard of that before, so I have an appointment with a Urologist on Monday. I'm not sure I'm willing to go through a bunch of testing/treatment, it's not that big a deal but I felt a need to mention it.

I did the same. I told only my 3 immediate family members and my 3 closest girlfriends. I was lucky that I had to get my gall bladder removed at the same time, so if anyone else found out I was in the hospital it was for Gall Bladder Removal. When people ask about my weight loss, I just say that I'm on a high Protein, low carb diet and eating 5 small meals a day.......exercising a ton. All of that is the truth, right? It's your business, no one else's.

Sleeved 6/22...... lost 25.2 as of today, 3 weeks after surgery date. And I started as a "Low BMI'er" and the weight loss normally is slower for those people.

I look forward to being able to throw on a cute sundress and flip flops and look adorable! I look forward to doing all the things I used to love: dancing, going to the flea market, festivals, downtown events....and not worry about running into people who used to know the "Skinny" Natalie and have them look at me like "What happened to you"? Those people I've avoided for 8 years will see me (when I reach goal) and say "Wow, you look great". I look forward to men falling all over themselves to open doors for me, rather than how they let it slam in my face now!! LOL

I had one put in before surgery while I was under anesthesia. Took it out in recovery. I had trouble "making pee" after I got into my room, so they put in one to quickly drain my bladder. They called it going "in and out". Still couldn't make pee, so they put one in late in the day (surgery day) and it came out the next morning. Finally turned on the shower and the sound of the Water created pee. Yippee! Then I was released. It's no big deal, no reason to worry. It was my first time hospitalized also

I believe you completely..... people treat "thin" people differently than fat people. When I was thin, men would fall all over themselves to open a door for me, I got compliments from strangers on a daily basis. When I was at 214 pounds, I could walk into a building and 3 men would let the door slam in my face before they'd consider opening it for me. I was invisible.

60 grams minimum..... up to 80 gram

Great news!! Let us all help you with the journey, the best is yet to come.

I'm 5'5" and I picked 140 because it's in the middle of the "Normal" range for my height. It would be life changing for me to even be at 160. But I want to be Normal......so anything under 152 is my goal.

Exactly what happened to me. Monday (6/22) was surgery day Tuesday was released from the hospital, just sore, no pain or nausea Wednesday I felt like the life was sucked out of me, no energy Thursday I felt like what little life I had on Wed had been sucked out Friday, I felt like I had returned to the land of the living. Saturday, I can honestly say I was at 85-90% .....and it's gotten better every day Hang in there!

That's what I did..... 1 week after surgery I had an important friend's birthday celebration and I had coordinated the event so i had to attend. Not everyone in the group knew about my surgery, only a couple of my closest friends knew. So we opted to go to a Comedy Club instead of a big dinner with drinks and Desserts. It worked out perfectly...... be creative. Don't put yourself in a situation to fail.

I have a similar situation (surgery date 6/22). I have had no issues with the entire process since Day 1. I almost feel I must be doing something wrong! I thought the Pre-op diet was going to kill me and I would want to gnaw off everyone's fingers during the first 2 weeks, but it was very easy! The surgery and the last 2 weeks have been easy, not one bit of pain or nausea. I'm a low BMI'er, started at BMI 35, so I figured I would be one of the slow losers or have issues. I've lost 22 pounds to date. Today I start the pureed stage, so all of this "I'm great, no problems" might change, who knows? We are some of the lucky ones, for sure!

Best of luck, you're starting your journey to healthiness!

I had lost 10 pounds in the Pre Op diet, then gained 11 in the hospital. Talk about depressing....But it all fell off within 2-3 days of being home. No worries, it will pass

I know that my body just went through a major trauma, but I'm so weak I can barely get to the bathroom. No pain at all, no vomiting, all of that is fine. Just ZERO energy. I'm sipping on Water all day, so I'm sure I'm fine there. For the first 2 days I was only allowed Isopure which was so nasty that I've only been able to drink 1/2 a bottle in 2 days. I'm sure that had something to do with it as well. Today is Day 3 and I'm making the same Protein shakes that I used in the Liver Reduction Diet. They're going down easier.... I just was able to walk the perimeter of my yard. That's it. Also, I can't feel when it's time to Pee. For example, this morning when I woke up I automatically went to use the bathroom. I didn't have the full bladder feeling, but sat and peed for a really long time. Is that normal? About every hour I just go sit and hope something comes out, because I have no sensations that I need to go!!

Oh, and I had made one shake from the unjury and spit it out....... and returning it for a refund. That was the nastiest stuff I've ever had! LOL

I love vanilla Premiere Protein ready to drink..........I love Vanilla Bariatric Advantage powder, as well as the Vanilla "Oh Yeah" Protein Powder. Here's what I do with the powders so I don't get bored with them. I buy sugar free Fat Free Jello Instant pudding mix in all the flavors I love, such as cheesecake, butterscotch, banana creme, etc. I throw the powder with Water and a couple of cubes of ice in the blender, along with a tablespoon of the flavor of Jello I like that day! It's delicious.....and you get variety. My NUT says to make up one shake and then pour just a couple of ounces into a small Dixie cup and drink it, then go back to the fridge and get a refill from the cold glass

It was added to my IV.... But the surgeons office said it wouldn't still be in my system 6 days later. They're running labs on me

I'm 6 days post op, had my surgery 6/22. Today, I decided to rejoin the land of the living and shower, wash my hair and shave my legs. (today is the first time I've shaved..... not showered, LOL). I shaved in the shower as usual, felt a horrible burning on my right leg. Looked down and saw blood pouring down my leg. It was coming from multiple cuts. I counted 17 cuts on my right leg that had blood coming from them. I haven't cut my legs shaving in 20 years..........it wasn't an old (or new) razor, nothing was out of the ordinary. Since there were so many cuts, I draped a towel around the leg and applied pressure by wrapping it tightly. Wouldn't stop bleeding. Blood wasn't gushing, but it was clearly not coagulating properly. After 35 minutes of trying everything, trying to be patient, freaking out..... I called my best friend. She told me to elevate it... so I did. After a couple of minutes, it looked like it had stopped, so I stood up and the bleeding restarted. So I wiped all the blood off my leg with a wet rag and elevated it for a full 10 minutes. Then, when I stood up there was no more bleeding. I'm not on any NSAIDS, no blood thinners, no aspirin. I only am taking (per surgeon's instructions) B Complex liquid and my Blood Pressure Med daily. Nothing more. Any thoughts or similar experiences? I took a photo immediately after counting the cuts and wiping off the blood.... see attached

I was sleeved last Monday 6/22, home from the hospital on Tues. Haven't had any pain at all since coming home, haven't had any nausea at all. Wed/thurs were my worst days, extremely weak. It took everything I had to get to the bathroom, showering or leaving the house was out of the question. Friday, I felt like a new person. Saturday night I went to a comedy club with friends (my first outing) and had a ball (drinking Water only). I was concerned that would wear me out, but I was fine. Today, I made it like a normal day.....ran errands, walked 15 min with my dog, plan on riding my bike for a while, etc. I was finally able to get 60 grams of Protein today, first day that's happened. The prior days was more like 30 grams per day. Water isn't an issue for me, plenty hydrated. I'm a low BMI'er (35 at start) and have lost 14 pounds since the start of the pre-op diet on 6/8/15. Of course, I had to lose 10 pounds twice (lost it during the pre-op liquid diet, then gained the Fluid in the hospital, lost it again)

I was sleeved this past Monday, 6/22/15, included was a gall bladder removal. I woke up as I was being wheeled into my room (remembered nothing from OR or recovery room), and I was screaming "I wasn't prepared for this" out loud. It felt like a 60 pound child was sitting on my tummy. The nurse said "we'll get you hooked up to the pain meds right away" and then all was fine. Once the pain meds were hooked up I was fine, no problem at all. Left the hospital the next day and my pain level was at 0 - 1 .... Haven't taken any pain pills at all since being home, have had zero discomfort. My only issue on Wed/Thurs was how weak I was, no energy. That too has passed. Friday and Saturday I can honestly say I'm at 85%.....even went out with friends tonight (drank Water, laughed and talked)

Hey there..... My surgery was on Monday.... I was surprised at how much pain I felt coming out of the Recovery Room. I kepIt saying out loud "I wasn't prepared for this!!!!". But I hit the happy button and all was fine. The pain meds are there for you to use, so USE THEM. I had 1 family member and 2 friends with me on surgery day, but I could barely keep my eyes open. I remember our conversations, but I was very sleepy. Was up and walking on the same day.... Tues wasn't as sleepy, but still taking some pain meds from time to time. Walked more....I couldn't Pee on my own, so I had to be catheterized in the middle of the night, they removed it on Tues AM and said I should be able to go on my own now, didn't happen. Finally, I turned on the shower and heard the Water and made Pee, Woooo Hooooo. then I was released. All of this time (with the exception of right out of the recovery room), I felt fine. My brother brought me home, and dropped me off. I live alone and wanted to recover alone. I was shocked to see that I had gained the 10 pounds I lost in pre-op diet while in the hospital... all the fluids .. Took until Thurs to lose that 10 pounds, so it came off fast.. I was extremely weak, so weak that it took everything out of me to walk to the bathroom. It was like that on tues, wed and thurs. I think Wednesday was the worst day with weakness. I could only get in like 30 grams of Protein those days and drank lots of water. I've had zero nausea.....haven't taken any pain meds since I left the hospital. I have had a small headache every day since Monday, which I never have had before. My taste buds have changed, I've always been a sugar addict, now every Protein Drink is just too sweet. Never thought anything could be too sweet before this journey. Friday, I woke up feeling more normal. Took a short walk, drove to GNC to buy a liquid B Complex. Couldn't handle the chewable ones. I took a shower (yes, I needed one desperately) and washed my hair. All went well. Tonight, I'm going out for a friend's birthday. They're all going to dinner and a comedy club. I'm going to meet them at the comedy club, so it won't be so obvious that I can't eat. Will sit there for an hour and a half and sip water. Only 2 of the 10 people going know about my surgery. I've lost 12.5 pounds from my highest weight. The only issue I'm having now is that I've lost the sensation to Pee. If it's been 2 hours, i should feel like my bladder is full. But I don't.... everyone says that's normal after being catheterized. 5 days later and I still don't feel the urge.... so i just go every couple of hours!!! Good luck to you!!!

I think you should go by what your surgeon says. I specifically asked my surgeon if I could use other products, such as Oh Yeah shakes, Pure Protein shakes, etc., he said "you must use the Bariatric Advantage shakes". So I did. But I agree, mix in some SF FF Jello pudding mix in with the shake to change up the taste