kazie15

I have struggled with that too... food for me was always a social thing, and it felt so weird the first few times I hung out with my friends and I wasn't doing what I did before, but it gets easier! Now we play board games, or set a activity at the lake to swim, or hanging at the park instead of a restaurant being the main event. And now that they are used to me bringing my own small snack and just eating that "small" amount, it's not awkward anymore. But I hear ya. I never realized, before surgery, how much food had such an influence on my day to day... Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Glad to hear your doing good! Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

One good thing is most of my immediate co-workers know I had the sleeve and are being super supportive, but I didn't tell everyone in the company. though at times I wish I could send a company wide e-blast that says,"no I don't want your Cookies, no I'm not trying to be rude, yes it does look amazing, yes that is all I'm eating for lunch, no I didn't turn anorexic over night..." So on and so forth... But normally I just say, "oh thank you for offering, but I'm not hungry... No seriously I'm good, but thanks, no really I know I usually eat 5, but I'm really ok.....I'm on a diet..." It's not their fault. They are used to me being the way I was so, it's strange to them. Then I'll have my co-worker who will say, "oh she just had weight loss surgery" as to explain for me why I'm not diving in..." So at this rate everyone will know soon enough haha! Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Amazing!!! You look just AMAZING!!! Yeah I often find myself in those kinds of situations. My office is very famous for sending out (what seems like) a daily e-mail about cake, Cookies, cheese cake or some other very yummy goodie in the break room. I have taught myself to just avoid the break room at all cost and eat lunch at my desk. However, I wish there was some way I could also remove myself from the company wide e-mail blasts about food (it all just sounds so good), but not be removed from actual company updates. HAHA. Wishful thinking. Also, going out to lunch as a department has also been something I have had to face. I work in a large department and for birthdays, or new hires, retirements etc. our boss takes everyone out to lunch on the house and we are expected to attend as part of the team. I have learned the healthiest options at each of our norms, but it is so hard sometimes to eat my cup of chicken tortilla Soup (sans tortilla strips) while everyone else is bingeing on chips, dip, and enchiladas. I will have to get me some good ol' progression photos like that and look at them right before our next departmental lunch! That has probably been the hardest part for me about this whole journey. Eating has always been a huge part of my social life. Go on a date... go to dinner. Happy hour with friend... drinks and dinner. Bonding with co-workers and bosses.... Go to lunch. Having people over… potluck. I have been trying hard to curb that behavior, remain my social self, but also fit that social self into my new healthier lifestyle. Has anyone else experienced this social breakdown due to unhealthy foods and bingeing being removed from your life? If so, how have your dealt with that?

Yep, it is the simple things in life that bring us joy, like getting to chew Vitamins and that being the highlight of our night. I am so glad I am past the liquid phase! :)

The hardest part for me was the liquid and soft foods part of the diet. I just wanted to chew and use my teeth. I remember being so frustrated that I couldn't have food. But trust me, that part only lasts so long. When I was in that stage, I would get so mad at commercials and all I wanted was my old foods... Once I was able to start eating real food again, I have noticed those cravings are gone. I don't crave fried foods or sweets. I actual crave things like grilled chicken, shrimp, cheese and veggies. (Did I actually just say veggies - yes I did). I wouldn't have believed that 3 months ago! I remember 2 weeks in, all I could think about was chili cheese dogs. Well I didn't. I recently had a single bite of the hotdog part with chili and cheese and it was truly disgusting to me. Weird right. Just be strong. In a few weeks you will be able to chew and get real food and life will get a lot easier. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

PATCHES!!! <3 I have been taking the Patches for 6 weeks now and I can’t say enough about them. No pills, no chalky flavor, no getting full on them before I even get to eat my Breakfast. They are so simple. I ordered them from Bariatric Pal’s online store. They auto-renew and come in the mail every couple of weeks and cost me $19.00 a month. I take one patch and put it on my shoulder before bed and when I wake up, I take it off. You only have to wear it for 8 hours. I just leave them on my nightstand and it is the last thing I do before bed. They really work, because I went away for the weekend, and forgot to pack them (before and after that, I have been wearing them religiously) and I way felt a difference. The list of the Vitamins is great and I love that it has a lot of Biotin in them to help keep your skins, nails and hair in good form since that is one of the number one negative responses from people who have underwent WLS is the thin hair and terrible skin. I have also not experience any issues with the adhesive. I have before with other “patch” products but so far nothing with these. Great product! Hope you find something that works for you!

That was probably one of my biggest fears. My mom and I both had surgery on the same day, one hour difference. (She always says that I have lost more weight because I have had the sleeve longer…. Funny). When we were discussing our biggest fears, her was the pain. Which I shared with her, but I also knew that I could live with that… Mine was that I wouldn’t wake up. I have a 3 year boy and I am a single mom so that thought was terrifying. She did a lot of comfort me in that fear. But, rest assure I did wake up. Also, remind yourself that your anesthesiologist gets paid A LOT of money to know exactly what they are doing. When I looked it up (because I was freaking out), only 7 people die under general anesthesia for every 1 million surgeries that occur that require it. That is like .0007% chance. That is also a worldwide percentage. Rest assure you will be fine.

I went through the same thing, anxiety. I didn’t really until like a few days before and then I started to really wonder “What am I about to put myself through.” I did it anyways and it was one of the best decisions I have made. So let me tell you a little about my story. The morning of surgery, they gave me something for my anxiety which helped me a lot. They wheeled me away and then I was awake in recovery. One of my biggest fears is OMG, this is going to hurt so badly for so long. BUT, it didn’t really. Within the hour of waking up, I was walking (Can’t stress that enough… Walk, Walk, Walk!) I was up walking around every 45 minutes or so. And although I was sore, it really didn’t hurt near as bad as I had imagined in my head. By the next day, I was getting around a lot easier. The worst of it all was the gas pains. (And not being able to sleep on my stomach – but that’s just me.) That is why you have to walk. The more walking you do, the more the gas pain decrease. The actually incisions did really hurt at all. And actually by the middle of the day after surgery, I told my nurse I no longer wanted pain meds. By day 2 (The day I was released from the hospital.) I went to Wal-Mart and the movies. The next day I took a taxi to the beach and walked along the Boardwalk. It will not be comfortable. It will be painful, but it is nothing as bad as you are probably envisioning in your head.

I know that it is hard. That is exactly why I drove myself crazy in the beginning! I mean you pay all this money and it seems like all you can think about at first. Losing, Losing, Losing. But then something happens. You kind of get back to your normal life. (Well, without the binge eating, snacking and beer at the BBQs, but you know what I mean). You do the weigh ins once a week and you will be shocked at your progress. Saturday I hit my 8 weeks, and my first 40 lbs.! I was so excited! I went through everything you are going through and feeling. Keep your chin up, you’re not alone!

Your body is going to be going through spurts of loss. (My Dr. talked me to about that and not to get discouraged and held up on it.) You also have to remember you just had surgery and you probably still have a lot of swelling. I know my stomach seemed swollen for like 2 or more weeks. I seemed to not lose anything the first few days, then all of a sudden, I lost a ton, then I didn’t, then I did. The first few weeks kind of seemed like an emotional weigh loss rollercoaster. I was also weighing every day. (I no longer do that to myself because I was driving myself CRAZY – “Oh no, I gain 2 oz. since yesterday” kind of crazy!). I now weigh once a week and that seems to be muuuuuch better for me. You also have to remind yourself that your body can flux a variance of 5 lbs. each day depending on fluids, cycle, and restroom needs. Go easy on yourself. It will happen as long as you follow your plan. Now that I am a little farther along, the weight loss seems steadier. Although I no longer have 10 lbs. in a few days loss, I have the steady every week loss of about 3.5 lbs. which I am perfectly content with.

I am 8 weeks post-op and I experienced the exact same thing between day 4-5. The day of and day after surgery I felt you know, like I had just had surgery, but by day 2 and 3 I was surprised how good I felt considering. I went to the movies, walked along the beach, normal stuff. Then day 4 happened. I couldn't even get out of bed I was so depleted. What I can tell you is that is very very normal. By the end of the week, I was back at it and feeling more like my normal self. But I still got depleted easily for the first 3 weeks. After than, I was really back to normal. I actually feel like I have a lot more energy now than I ever did post-op. But that also might be due to the 40 lbs I no longer have weighing me down! Stick with it, relax and let yourself heal.