HeidiA

No issues with either, but everyone stresses this is a lifestyle change; portions will be minuscule carbs from starches are a thing of the past; follow the doc's eating plans... protein then vegetable; stop when full, even if it's only three or four small, finely chewed bites. I hope the new way of eating cures the former issues. Heightened senses of smell and taste will guide you as to whether or not you should even take the first bite! Best of Luck!

The big incision is usually the site where they pull the stomach through and that causes a good deal of trams, pain, swelling and bruising; the stomach is pretty big, so that incision site usually takes the longest to heal and hurts the most.

Under is under! Way to go!!!

Did you eat too fast? Did you have too much? Sounds like you chewed sufficiently but, at 6 days your stomach is still swollen and can't hold more than 3 tbsp of anything -liquids and noodles - so maybe you overdid it. I'm surprised your eating plan allows carbs, but I'm realizing the diets are as varied as the number of doctors.

It's the body eliminating all of the fat and impurities that have been stored up in the fat cells. It eliminates it any way it can - through urine, bad breath, sweat glands, through the skin - in any manner possible. One friend of mi e who was sleeved felt greasy for the first 3-4 months - wiping her arms and coming away with fat that had come through the pores in the skin! All sweat and secretions are a bit more offensive because they're old fat and old impurities. Consider the zits a win! I keep towelettes at hand to wipe my face, underarms and other places to ward off the sweat; maybe alcohol pads or make-up remover pads would help the zits. Drink more water; that's the best think for you.

I'm sorry you're having these temptations and feelings. My doc told me way before surgery that removing the larger part of my stomach also removed the part that secreted the hormone Ghrelin - which is responsible for hunger pangs. Now, maybe this is psychological, but I went into surgery believing I wouldn't have hunger pangs after - and I don't! The smell doesn't bother me (and I really thought it would) - but I still mute the TV and bypass FB posts with recipes, but I truly have NO hunger pangs whatsoever. I looked around the web to see if my doc was just trying to psych me out, but it turns out the sleeve actually does remove the greater portion of the hormone.

Congratulations!!!

My plan has clear liquids for 2 weeks (water, broth, SF jello, herbal tea - and protein powder) - then week three I start 1 soft egg per day for 1 meal - eating only as much as I can tolerate - 2-3 bites at first (using a baby/toddler spoon) - take 20 minutes to eat it slowly - stop when full and throw away any remaining egg; make a new one the next day - that's week 3 - egg week. Week four introduces soft proteins for 'at least' one meal per day (liquids with protein are for the rest)

Motrin can cause unexpected bleeding ulcers in the stomach so it's not to be taken (since we do t have any stomach to lose at this point). I was taking 2400 mg a day (800 mg 3x/day in conjunction with pain pills) for arthritis and have given it up completely. I can use topical creams, but no more oral Motrin or NSAIDS. If Pamperin has Tylenol in it, that's great! I hope you find some relief.

The removal of the stomach took withh it the area that produces the hormone Ghrelin - which is responsible for hunger - so we don't have that anymore (or at a markedly reduced rate). Put a full scoop of protein in a large glass (12oz) of herbal tea and sip it as part of your fluids. It's a great way to get your protein in. I use mint in the morning and ginger at night... both well known to soothe the stomach. What type of protein powder are you using? I use unflavored Unjury protein powder and it has 21g protein per scoop. And I agree with the statement above about having plenty of fuel to live off; my doc says a good six months is normal, but hopefully you're taking WLS Vitamins as well as try to g to get in your protein. Good luck

I use Unjury plain protein powder in tea, broth and gelatin. It clouds the gelatin giving it a creamy look and doesn't affect the taste in my tea. I make the gelatin using 2 cups SF juice, 2 Knox gelatin packets and 1 scoop of protein.

Try taking a picture and put it side-by-side with your before picture; that should do it! Sounds like you're doing really well... congranulations!

Everything went well; I was ready to get up and walk two hours post-op, but they had me wait 5 hours. The discomfort (aka pain) was manageable and truly not a problem. They offered me pain meds and I took them. I'm up sitting in a chair now, with a foot-stool and working on Sudoku and Priscilla Shirer's The Resolution for Women. Good stuff.

Update - it's now 3 days post-op and I'm doing well. I'm down 12 pounds since my weigh-in 2 days before surgery and I'm already feeling better. The pain has subsided and is now just a dull ache. I'm sipping water all day and have made gelatin using sugar-free fruit juice, gelatin packets and protein powder. I just nibble one square at a time. No hunger pangs whatsoever (yay), but I know it's important to get protein and nutrients, so I also opened 3 WLS vitamin capsules and poured them into a glass and mixed it with about 2-3 ounces of water and sipped it (it was awful!) lol ran fevers of 99.1 to 99.5 for 3 days (perfectly normal since body is healing 5 incision points plus the stomach), but now temp has stabilized and is normal. Incision areas are all healing well, swelling is down (but not gone); I'm still being very careful. My doc recommended I not be alone for at least 1 week after surgery so I have someone here at all times, just to be one the safe side. All-in-all - I think it went well and I think I'm doing exceptionally well!

Goodness I'm on tramadol too! My surgery is a go for this Thursday! I hope your labs get straightened out; best of luck!

Dyin' laughing! Good one! ????????????

Congrats! Glad it went well!

@@jusarte - big congratulations on surgery going so well!

Oh, Ellie... congratulations at getting all of your medical stuff taken care of at one time! I, too, expected classes, etc, but I got my approval and date set last Monday and my surgery is this Thursday, 9/24/2015, so no time for classes and all, but I do have 1 class tomorrow (2 days before op) then I go right next door to the hospital for my pre-op processing). I researched this before I asked for it, so I'm probably more mentally prepared, but it's a huge psychological change, despite the fact that you've had the band. With the sleeve you won't be able to ingest more than 4 tbsp or about 4 ounces at a time, forever. No eating and drinking at the same time - forever. Over-eating can risk damage or regurgitation and can damage your staples (which was what I had trouble understanding... them staying inside me forever and ever). I know I'll need future MRIs and I know these don't react to MRIs, but how does the body act to a foreign substance forever.... inquiring minds want to know! Rambling aside, (sorry) - we all need to change how we view food. I'd recommend avoiding cruises or other places you associate with eating (as the main event). I'm retired (which is bad because I have nothing but time), so I'm taking up languages and maybe sewing (for donating to the needy). I said goodbye to overeating and bad carbs and have to look at them as the enemy. Our health and our lives are at risk - and as a single mom, I'm needed here and I want to set a better example for my 16 yr old daughter; I don't want her ever to have to go through this. Fat isn't pretty or sexy any more; it's just deadly and it took my health going south to realize that. I wish you all the best on 9/29; you're in my prayer.

@@Andrew0929 - Andrew, what age group are you, if you don't mind me asking? Either way - that's great. I'm hoping I have some elasticity left, but I'm 55, so time (exercise and moisturizing from the inside and out) will tell.

My doc really pounded it into my head that a surgery date isn't license to eat; learning to eat high protein/low carb, smaller portions and chewing is important, but mostly we need to cut the carbs and sugar to reduce the size of our fatty livers before surgery (as much as we can) so the surgery will be easier. I even see some countries/docs having their people on high protein eating plans as much as 3-6 months out and liquids 3-6 weeks out. Yikes!

@@SusanFlores - congratulations! You're in my prayers for perfect surgery and fast healing!

I'm on tramadol and it can give a false positive; just let them know what meds you're on and ask for a redo if they have issues; (as for postponing... my potassium was low and they might reschedule mine; I find out Tuesday (and surgery is supposed to be 9/24; there redoing blood tomorrow (Monday) but the results might not be back n time for my hospital pre-op appt Tuesday. if they need to redo your labs and reschedule, don't worry. Good luck.

Shoppedude - how are you doing now? Better, I hope.