Christine Vieira

What does your doctor say? This doesn't sound like something that you should ignore. Get it checked out please.

I received the pre-filled syringes in a package. No alcohol wipes, but just use a cotton ball and some alcohol - easy enough.

I can't stomach bread - sits in my stomach like a rock, fills me up too much.

Love your attitude! You'll get there before you know it!

I also have problems with constipation, despite taking Colace twice a day. The problem is that I can't eat any bread so Fiber intake is zip and that I take Iron supplements because of my anemia due to my low iron rich food intake. So, usually once a week I take a laxative to have my weekly BM. I feel so much better after that.

I actually got my period hours after the surgery - which apparently is very common. I had very heavy periods for about a year after - eventually needed a gynecological surgery. Don't know if the heavy periods were related to the gastric sleeve or a horrible coincidence or being perimenopausal at 49 y.o. Either way, I became very anemic and continue to have to take Iron supplements as a result of my decreased red meat intake.

Like everyone has already said the first several days can be difficult, but it does get better. Regarding your weight gain, the surgeon had to pump you up with gas in order to visual the stomach and other organs. If your farting or burping that's good, the gas is coming out. If you were on IV antibiotics for the chest infection, that's extra Fluid you've taken in. All this should pass. Hang in there.

It's been 2 1/2 years since my sleeve surgery and I still burp a lot after a meal for about 20 minutes or so. I have to try to remember to slow down, not drink during the meal and definitely less chatting during the meal. Sometimes it can be so uncomfortable feeling full of gas like that the only that would help would be to vomit. That only happens when I've clearly overeaten.

It will come off.

Awesome!!

Please have your doctor check your hormone levels. If you were on any kind of hormone or antidepressant meds before the surgery your doses may need to be reassessed. This is major surgery and it can take up to year for your body to fully adjust. Periods can be out of wack, you can have temporary hair loss/thinning. I had these plus my thyroid hormone were effected. It's also perfectly normal to be anxious and fearful about the future and the new you as you start seeing changes in your body and how people respond to you. For many of us, food was a best friend and coping mechanism. We now have to find other ways to cope. It can be scary.

You're doing fine. Resist the temptation to weigh yourself daily. Choose one day a week that you weigh yourself and set up a calendar. You'll see the progress more clearly that way. I took photos every 3 months in the same position and same place in my home to visually track my progress. Wear the same types of clothing in the pics to really see the difference. I had my sleeve done on June 21, 2013. I lost 110 lbs in the first 18 months and I've maintained that. When I had my stall, I tried working out and by the following week I was back to losing weight again.