Yaberhoo

Dear Butt: Stomach and I had an argument so I cut him out. You're next. --Me

Super easy. One second you are awake and talking to the anesthesiologist and the next second you are waking up in your room. Anesthesia = BEST. sleep. EVER. They can give you something to calm you down before surgery. Just ask.

It's a blessing to find this now. You know what you are dealing with. My dad's insurance changed and he made an appointment with his new doctor. He had been having knee pain for years and his previous doctor couldn't find a reason. It turned out to be radiating pain from his hip and needed a hip replacement. During the pre op physical they found that he had a rare aggressive form of prostate cancer and that he had suffered at least two heart attacks 12 years before that his previous doctor didn't mention (stress test from 1990 showed abnormalities that the technician noted - we got a copy of the test result). Anyway, if we had waited another month, the prostate cancer would have left the capsule of the prostate and metastasized. Prostate cancer doesn't respond well to chemo or radiation once it's metastasized. We were very lucky to find out when we did.

Yes, I was warned about stalls. The company I went through has an active facebook page and 5 minutes reading the posts on that would also tell you that they are normal. I think most people dismiss it because it isn;t going to happen to them and don't remember what was said when the stall hits. I researched the surgery, pre op, and post op for two months before deciding to have the surgery. I do think there is a distinct lack of research done by those considering surgery. They know someone who had surgery and decide it's a good idea to have it as well. That thought scares me. I have a friend who is having surgery on 12/29 and told me I am her inspiration. Strange that she never contacted me to see where I had surgery, who my doctor is, etc. I asked her if she had questions and she said she has lots. I have yet to hear back from her on those questions. I am quite worried about her. She leaps before looking and I question as to whether or not she is truly ready to make the life change that this surgery requires.

I already have a bald spot on top of my head before surgery. I'm looking into wigs when my hair loss starts. Wigs could be fun! Different colors and styles depending on your mood! Stressing about it will only increase what you lose. The body is stressed out and the hair is going to fall. Biotin 10,000 mcg a day. I bought http://www.puritan.com/puritans-pride-brand-0102/healthy-hair-formula-with-biotin-10000-mcg-050951?scid=34618 and it is super low priced and quality stuff.

Congratulations on your loss so far! You can make your goal, me thinks. I am a proponent of low carb, not no carb. Your body does need them so try to get in about 25-40 a day. My most humble opinion.

This has been my biggest struggle since surgery. I try to take little bites and eat slowly. After a lifetime of shoveling it in like Garfield eating lasagna, it's a very hard habit for me to change. I work on it though. I haven't made it 15 mins yet, but I'm getting there. The instant correction I get from my tummy when I gulped too fast is a great motivator and feedback device. It will bring you to your knees if you aren't careful.

Are you cleared for that kind of exercise? That seems intensive so soon. Since you exercize so much you may not be getting enough calories to keep you out of starvation mode.

Push forward with the surgery. You are in exactly the same place as you were before they opened you up. Your reasons for surgery have not changed. The stars are aligning with insurance good to go with the new date.

I know someone who had a large liver at surgery recently and the doctor juuust managed to complete the surgery. He almost had to cancel it. It really can happen. I did an extra week of the pre op diet as I am so heavy to ensure my liver was small. Dr. confirmed it was after surgery. Thank God.

5 months, ew. Perhaps low carb eating rather than pre op. I don't know what your surgeon's pre op looks like but mine was Atkins on crack. Super low carb, low cal, low fat, high Protein = not fun. I don't think you should do that for 5 months. I was ready to kill after 3 weeks. However, low carb eating with an eye on sodium levels might help.

Why not start the pre op diet now? It would prevent your weight from going up, it will probably make your blood pressure go down, and would be a good jump start for when he does sign the paperwork. Not the most awesome thing in the world, but it could help kill a few birds at once.

I just discovered that my tummy purrs when I eat a piece of Jerky. I asked santa for a dehydrator for christmas so I can control the sodium level and know what is going into it. Seriously, my tummy sighed. It was the weirdest sensation. I eat a lot of cottage cheese and eggs. I cook regular meals for my mom and eat the parts that I can. For example, I made white chicken enchiladas and only ate the filling.

I say it about myself with a large dash of humor. I had to pay an additional amount because my bmi was over 50 at surgery. I called it the fat***ness charge.

Feeling the difference will be the biggest motivation for me. But due to my level of fatassness, 54lbs isn't enough to REALLY see it yet. So I settle for the lovely number. That will change soon.

One of the main reasons why your stomach eventually holds 4 - 6 oz of food is because the swelling from the surgery goes away. Some is dilation, I will agree with that, but you cannot discount the swelling from surgery either.

I agree. I'm only 6 weeks out so I tend to weigh daily because each day it goes down a bit and what a great way to start the morning. If it doesn't go down, or it goes up, it doesn't bother me and I put the scale away for a few days. As I get further along I'll stuff the scale into some dark corner. Right now I enjoy the happy dance of seeing the new numbers. Besides, my clothes are only slightly looser right now and being down 54lbs, that is really annoying. So for me it's the opposite of what I suggest for everyone else. I'm focusing on the proof that the number is going down since my pant size hasn't gone down yet. Stupid razzle frazzle pants!

I agree with @Babbs. This thread could be setting yourself up for disappointment or can be used as motivation. Your journey can't be compared with others. Your body is not the same as mine. For the record, I have lost 54 lbs since I started preop on 10/1 (surgery on 10/22). HOWEVER, I started at over 400lbs so it is natural that I lose faster than most people. Extra fatassness = faster initial weight loss. As you get closer to goal it will slow as your body fights to keep that extra 20 or 30 lbs on. Don't allow yourself to compare your loss to others. It's a slippery slope that will likely make you feel like a failure.

Why not attempt the 5 day sleeve reset and see if that helps you get back on track? It sounds like you need to focus on getting back to basics and see if you can push through it. Also, I would talk to your doctor about the side effects of this new med. Maybe there is an alternative.

34 lbs since surgery.

Be prepared to not be able to sleep in your bed right away. I was most comfortable sleeping in my recliner the first week after I got home. Laying flat was the only time that I was uncomfortable. I used extra pillows in TJ to prop me up in the hotel bed, but the recliner was initially more comfortable. I graduated to the pillow fort for another few days in bed before I was able to comfortably lay down. Much of this could be that I'm a stomach sleeper and I had to psych myself out when sleeping on my back.

Honestly, once you are cleared for all foods (you are fully healed) there should be no such thing as cheating. The priority is getting in your daily Protein and Water, but if you have a snack after you met those goals, it isn't cheating. This is your new life, not a diet. In the real world people eat a cookie or have a glass of wine occasionally. If you eat it more than occasionally or are not meeting your goals because of the other foods, then you are only hurting yourself. That's only cheating yourself, but not technically cheating on your diet. Diet is an ugly word. We all had surgery so we could stop dieting. Instead we make CHOICES. Do I choose to eat this cupcake or do I choose to use that little bit of tummy space to get another 30g of protein in me today? That's the choice and you live with the consequences. Diet makes it sound temporary. This is forever.

I don't feel anger at those who make bad food choices down the road - that is part of life and their choice. What gets my engines fired up are those who have obviously done zero research on their chosen surgery before having it done and those who are risking their health during the first six weeks of healing. It makes me physically ill to see the posts from people who are 4 or 5 days out and asking for permission to cheat. There is a lady on my surgeon's facebook page that was eating grapes and meat 5 days after her sleeve surgery. The post op nurses nearly fainted and got her straightened out. This lady went through the same company as I did so I know that she was inundated with information and apparently chose to ignore/not read it. The after care nurse emails your list of approved foods each week so you are prepared. Another lady was eating crackers a week post op. I don't get it. You have major surgery and then can't be bothered to make sure you heal properly and not rip your new stomach? At least let it heal so you aren't risking your life with a blow out. I understand and live the fight of changing your eating habits and the constant war in your head. I did months of heavy research before deciding to do this and understood what I needed to do pre and post op. I guess that I expect too much out of others to do the same? There is so much information at our fingertips in regards to this surgery and it is as easy as googling vertical sleeve surgery to get started. I have a friend who recently told me that she is getting sleeved on 12/29 and she's doing it because I am her inspiration. I was just sleeved on 10/22/15 so it's only been a few weeks and I didn't announce the surgery until I was 4 weeks post op. She didn't even call me to ask who did the surgery! I worry because she is the type to leap before she looks. I asked her to give me a call if she has questions. She said she has tons but hasn't contacted since. It's not my problem.....It's not my problem.....It's not my problem....

To be brutally honest, I feel that it is far too invasive for 50 lbs. To each his own, but dang. This surgery is designed for those who have a substantial amount to lose and in my humble opinion, 50lbs is not substantial.

You need to follow the program your surgeon and nut mapped out for you. Two weeks of liquids is two full weeks of liquids. It seems like all surgeons have their own program but you need to follow yours to a T. Why cheat? Do you really want to risk rupturing your new stomach? Doing so could cost you your life. This is serious crap here so be serious. You must do the steps faithfully. You have to retrain your stomach to eat, but you also have to give it time to heal. You are on liquids because the fluids pretty much slide through without the stomach contracting. You will later introduce pureed foods and soft foods so that your stomach will learn how to digest again. It's like learning how to write again after your finger was cut off. It takes time for healing and then practice.