hats123

The sf jello sat on my trays at every hospital meal. Their untouched presence was my silent protest. They will not shove that mess down your throat if you don't want it! Sent from my iPad using the BariatricPal App

One more piece of info about cramps -- in my post above I described a feeling like a stitch in my side. Well, today I had a follow-up appointment with my surgeon, and when I described it to her she immediately understood what I was describing and said that it had to do with a nerve getting pinched during the healing process, and that stretching helps get it back into place. I asked her if it was common and she said "It's not COMMON, but it's certainly not uncommon or abnormal." This isn't about intestinal cramps or tightness in the chest but rather a feeling like you get in your side if you're running too fast or are out of shape or whatever, feels like it's very deep in the muscle. Just a lil FYI here in case anyone else has this kind of cramp-like pain.

Hi! I'm not the buddy you're looking for since I already had the surgery, but I am in New York and would be happy to message with you about surgeons you're considering and so on. Also, there are subforums and extended threads for cohorts with the same month of surgery. I don't know if there's one yet for 3/17 but there may well be -- I'd go searching around if I were you. Good luck to you!

I am less far out (5.5 weeks) than you, but I have trouble with all kinds of meat and all preparations (well, all the ones I've tried). I thought I was doing something wrong with bite size or chewing time. But then I talked to a friend who was sleeved years ago and she said, like one of the above posters, that she couldn't eat meat comfortably until more like 4 months. And then there's the poster right above me who still has trouble with pork. I think it's just one of those things -- we all recover differently and that may be at play even if you were able to eat those foods earlier post-op. Who knows what your sleeve is doing to adjust as your body continues to heal? I've also read separately (by "read" of course I mean watched a surgeon's video on YouTube) that animal muscle Protein (standard beef, chicken, etc) is the hardest on sleeves and is usually the last thing that people are able to tolerate.

Also, your "full" and the consequences of it might vary a lot depending on what you are eating. I'm also 5 weeks post op and am supposedly cleared for all foods...but have learned the very uncomfortable way that there are some foods, no matter how soft or carefully prepared or well chewed or slowly eaten, that my sleeve is just NOT ready for yet. It took me three agonizing evenings and a call to a physician friend to understand this: of course my surgeon wants to say (and to believe!) that a month post op I can eat whatever I want, just in smaller portions. The reality, since everyone heals differently, is that I'm just not ready for some foods (in my case animal muscle Protein - beef (including ground); chicken; veal etc)). If you're on the road a lot in these first months I would be mindful of the fact that full and uncomfortable might come about not just from eating too much or too fast, but from eating foods your sleeve can't handle yet. I wish I had understood this extremely simple principle before I went through agony three times! Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

This US-centric sleever is just a mess with all this talk of kilograms and centimeters!!! GAHHH!!! I'm bad enough at math already without having to do conversions!! Just kidding. Well I mean it's TRUE, but I'm well aware of my US-centrism. And my math limitations. Good luck to all new sleevers in this thread, be you in Boston or Brisbane or in between...or farther away still!

Glad to hear it! Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Some of it, the pain that feels but isn't always related to bowel movements, could be intestinal spasm...did your surgeon prescribe Levsin or something else for bowel spasm? The pain under your ribs...hmm. Could be the unfamiliar tightening as you consume, even if you're just on Clear liquids. Could be the sleeve healing, all that tissue working to knit itself together. It could also be acid; are you taking a PPI like omeprazole (I can never spell that!)? Last thing - I also had weird pains that I think were related to the actual little incision areas healing deep under the surface. One felt like an easily-triggered stitch in my side, the kind you get from sprinting or something. I had weird pains post op unrelated to eating; I think it helps to remember that your sleeve is healing and so are those incision sites. Take the anti-spasm med and PPI if you have them. If you're worried, call your surgeon's office! Sent from my iPad using the BariatricPal App

It was about ten days, could have been sooner but he was traveling. Surgeon said whenever I felt up to it was OK. I would have been comfortably able to after day 5 or so. Sent from my iPad using the BariatricPal App

As I said in your other thread, I was also self-pay in the US and borrowed a ton of money from a loved one to do it (I was open to traveling to keep costs down, but the people in my life I rely on for support and advice were resistant. I DO NOT mean they are correct or that the way I did it is the better way. I just mean that in my case it was the simpler way to accomplish this part of my goal). In retrospect I would have borrowed twice as much...we borrow so much to buy houses, if we are able and if we choose to, or cars, or whatever...this is your body and your life, and I totally get funding it any way you can. There is a steep learning curve to every part of this-- to recovery, to living with the sleeve, to helping it help you best. I'm sticking to my surgeon's program but I still make mistakes -- but I keep telling myself there's no mistake I will make twice! Each one has consequences that are too memorable - and I don't mean in a way you should scrapbook - for you to risk repeating. I know I say it in every post but I am so glad I took this step. It is helping me approach so many areas of my life in a more positive and productive way, maybe because it all but forces you to put your healthy self first (or suffer soon after). You'll also find NSVs all over the place, not just the ones you're anticipating now. I could try to list them all but it would take forever

I started doing normal things including some work and going out with friends at one week, but I was still getting tired very easily. The friend who has been my main source of information (she was sleeved 5 years ago) went back to work after one week too. I think going back to a sedentary job at one week should be fine, as long as you're prepared for the chance that you will still need to be in recovery mode for awhile. For me, working say 9-5 would not have been a problem after a week, but I rested a LOT in those first weeks. I didn't feel like I had my energy back until 3 weeks post op - body healing, also clearing out that hardcore anesthesia! But I wouldn't have wanted to take 3 weeks off work unless two of them were at Club Med or a spa or something. And as everyone else says, 1) the reality is that if God forbid you have a major complication, your plan will change radically anyway, and 2) your parents are in a great position to approve breaks if necessary, or to work with you to have someone cover your shifts (if it's that kind of job) or whatever it takes if you have to change course post op. Betting on a week is not a 100% thing; nothing is. But it's a good bet in your circumstances IMO.

Yeah @@krazykristen that's terrific! I also borrowed money from someone close to me to pay for the surgery; we have discussed very frankly that it may take a very long time for me to pay it back, but fortunately 1) he is in no rush and 2) he knew how uncomfortable, unhappy, and defeated I felt before the surgery and while he was nervous about my getting surgery, he was happy to help me grab this chance when I had been feeling so down and so hopeless/helpless. Anyway, yeah when you're paying out of pocket it can be a real whirlwind schedule! I went from initial consult to the operating room in two weeks. The downside of it is that you don't have much of a pre-op phase to lose some of the extra and head into post-op raring to lose more. But the upside is it gives you less time to freak out and second-guess yourself. You'll see a wide range of stories on these boards but you'll overwhelmingly see people who feel the way I do: liberated, getting a second chance, in control, and optimistic about health, comfort, and appearance....in some cases for the first time ever. I'm only a month post-sleeve but this has already helped so many positive changes come into my life...yes the weight loss of course, but also a general sense of possibility, control, and optimism that had been missing for so long. I hope your experience is similar...and so glad you've found a way through your grandparents to pay for it. Yay!!

Hi @@kendra01, Congrats on surviving these major health risks and challenges, and on looking ahead to surgery. Some people don't experience a hideously horrible phase. But among those who do, you'll usually read -- at least in the weight loss phase (I'm early days, can't speak to struggles a year down the road) about: - the pre-op diet, which varies by surgeon, and can be for example weeks of just liquids. Some people find this very very hard; - the post-op liquid diet, which for most people means less hunger than the pre-op diet but some people really really want to CHEW, and don't like Protein shakes; or - the very first few days after surgery. Some people experience regret during this period, some people are in more pain than they anticipated...etc. I would guess that since you have been through major surgery already you might not be as fazed by the immediate post-op recovery. Just one data point: I had a c-section several years ago, and -- of course everyone is different -- for me personally, having the memory of that recovery made my WLS recovery much less stressful. For me, this surgery was less painful abdominally, had a much quicker physical recovery, and of course was not accompanied by a post-partum hormone crash. So while I have had struggles and frustrations over the past month, I didn't go through a period of regret or of real horror at the physical agony of it all. Again, everyone's different and I just wanted to share my experience. So...you could have a hideously horrible phase before or after surgery, or you might not have one at all. Sent from my iPad using the BariatricPal App

@@pnt38 Hi, I was sleeved a month ago as well (August 11) and was self-pay as well (you'll find lots of others on these boards who were, too). I'm juuuuust slowly coming out of a two-week stall and have been discouraged and worried at times. But when I look at the big picture I am reminded of how much progress ANY progress is. If I lose 4 pounds this month, that's 4 that I didn't gain, and it's 4 more than I lost any time recently! If you started at a lower BMI -- in the low/mid thirties -- like most of us in this thread, you'll see it's common to lose more slowly than some who started out with more to lose. And you'll read over and over that it's different for everyone. Also, one thing about the very beginning (veterans: first month or two?) is that your body *really* is recovering from a major intervention. For me, this meant that I didn't see the scale move at all for a week or ten days or something. I was bloated from the IV fluids and I also think my body was like, "EXCUSE me, can I heal a minute please?" That said, of course some people who only have, say, 50 pounds to lose will lose it really quickly. It's exciting to read their stories but it's also hard when you're not seeing the scale or your measurements move. The excellent advice you'll find here is generally: - are you meeting your Protein and liquid intake goals/guidelines? - if you don't have a defined eating/drinking plan, can you make an appointment with a nutritionist knowledgeable about bariatric surgery? - are you moving your body -- walking for example? - put in a call to your surgeon and to your nutritionist if you have one. - stick with the program. Sometimes you will get more tailored advice, to increase your protein, increase or decrease your calories, etc. But at such an early stage post op you'll usually be advised to check in with your professionals (or find one if you don't have a post-op team), to get that protein, hydration, and physical movement, and to be patient -- even to the point of staying off the scale -- remembering what your body has been through and that your body is different from anyone else's. Hang in there. I really know the feeling. Congrats on your surgery and good luck to you!

liquid diet is hard, but for some people it gets easier, and it can be good to have some liquid Protein options available to fall back on later (I know that seems unimaginable now!!). One thing I did to make it a little more fun - and I was surprised how much this worked - was to set up a little bar on my kitchen counter. I keep flavored and unflavored powders there, and a row of sugar-free flavor syrups. I know it sounds super lame but it actually makes the whole thing much less tedious! Here's my setup: Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Wow! I'm a bit behind you guys but I read for motivation! Major congrats on hitting that goal at 6 weeks post op! You must feel AMAZING. And just because this is where you got stuck in the past...that means nothing. This is not like every -- or any -- other diet of your life. This is a whole different ball game. Really psyched for you and everyone in this losers' home stretch!

Thanks guys. @@sleevenv thank you -- that's excellent advice, to use this time to learn new habits. I am determined to make the most of this and NOT to throw away this chance and everything it means (money spent, risk of surgery undertaken, a real chance to improve my health and appearance like no chance I've ever had). I think I was just shocked, really rattled, to feel even the slightest craving to go back to old habits. It came out of (seemingly) nowhere and I had a really scared reaction -- like oh no, if I have this feeling it will control me. And THAT's a big part of what I have to teach myself and remind myself: h*** no, an "old" feeling does not have to control me or to mean defeat. Not to mention the fact that -- at least at this point -- those cravings are about 100x easier to control than in the past. At almost 4 weeks out I know it's very early days, and every day I feel like I'm learning something new about post-surgery life and sustenance. And man, do I feel grateful for this powerful powerful tool in the battle for control over my own body and health. It's just incredible.

my NUT told me about those and you just reminded me to place an order Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App @@lapitcha your prayers have been answered GNC/Toal Lean Shake 11 oz liquid 25 gr protein 170 calories bottle - liquid all set to drink little expensive worth the convenience and yummy taste yum yum yum swiss chocolate is the one i buy wonderful taste 4 in separate bottles i am drinking to your health continued speedy recovery good luck kathy I'm going to take your word for it and try them out. The Total Lean shake was of the ones I didn't like but maybe the pre made ones will be okay Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App I second or third this! The total lean comes in a regular (sweetened with sucralose I think) and a "natural" (sweetened w stevia) I find the latter much much tastier but am not sure if it comes pre-mixed. I just shake each one up individually in a Blender Bottle. There's also a vegan version but I haven't looked at the numbers on that one. Also ditto-ing the use of GENEPRO powder! Make anything into a high protein thing and in my experience it's not detectable. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I felt hungry post-op until I started religiously taking the one that's hard to spell. Omeprezole? You should have rx for it, and there is an OTC version. And as the previous poster said, YES getting in all your Protein and Clear liquids, together with acid control, should take care of it. I've been there though. Good luck!! Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

@@maggie'smom that's great about the possible workout buddy! How is everyone doing? 3.5 weeks post op I've just made the transition to mostly foods (purees and mushy, not even real "soft" foods yet) and I am finding myself frightened about exercising self-control. Of course I can't eat a huge quantity at once but I am so worried I will just "graze" and defeat the purpose of this incredible tool. I know it's within my control, and I am so grateful every day for this sleeve...and yet I'm so worried that as options open up to me I will unintentionally sabotage my progress. I don't mean I would do this out of a deep seated need to fail, or other deep psychological reason. I just mean I fear slipping into new versions of my old habits. And it makes me want to run back to the safe, if somewhat monotonous world of shakes and Powerade zero. And the ridiculous part is that I have this fear despite being motivated by the numbers ticking down on the scale! Anyone been there? Sent from my iPad using the BariatricPal App

Congrats on your surgery and I'm sorry you're having a hard time with the Protein. Here are some things that work for me: I have found that GENEPRO "medical grade powder" unflavored Protein Powder is a lifesaver. I know you tried unflavored already but they are not all the same. I swear I don't work for the company -- I just found this product so helpful and versatile. It mixes into any food or drink and is, to me, completely undetectable both in terms of flavor and texture. A spoonful has 30 grams of protein and 56 calories. Sorry - I'm pretty good at remembering protein and calories but I always have to look up sugar/carbs. I have added Genepro to chicken broth, cold drinks, and (I'm a few weeks out from surgery now) anything from cottage cheese to sugar free chocolate pudding. The jar directs you to online instructions on how to get the best results (mixing with a fork instead of spoon, etc). I am sensitive to grit and to added flavors and I have found this stuff to be a miracle. I ordered it from Amazon. I like the Isopure mentioned above (it's kind of like a juice with a light almost kombucha flavor, totally clear, no grit or protein vibe). A friend of mine has a third of a bottle over ice every morning just to get an easy protein boost at the very start of the day. And I totally agree with previous posters about the Syntrax nectar. I bet if you diluted their roadside lemonade with some crystal light or a stevia-based enhanced Water or, heck, just water and a squeeze of lemon juice if that's allowed, you wouldn't be able to tell you are drinking a Protein Drink. Each Syntrax Nectar packet has 23 grams protein and 100 calories. One last thing -- people have mentioned milk and fortified milk, which I totally agree with. I don't like the flavor of plain milk so I bought (again, Amazon) a bunch of sugar free syrups meant for flavoring coffee and cocktails. I started with a variety pack of Torani brand syrups at first and now I'm starting to try cheaper brands. I found that putting some milk together with powdered milk and ice in the blender and adding these syrups made a tasty creamy/whipped drink almost like a milkshake or frappuccino with zero protein taste. I most commonly add hazelnut, chocolate, or vanilla syrup (or a combo of chocolate and hazelnut and I pretend it is Nutella!). I agree with previous posters -- you will need to find a solution, and the good news is there IS a solution for you. You can even do it without premade protein shakes. Try variety packs, single servings of various shakes or puddings and also try pre-mixed individual bottles even if you've already tried the powdered version of the same brand. Texture is a big part of the equation for many people, and the premixed have very distinct textures from the powders. GOOD LUCK and congratulations. You are not alone in any part of this struggle, especially finding ways to get your protein that you can tolerate. Sent from my iPad using the BariatricPal App

Hi, @@mlecompte @shelbys mom and @isda418. I had my surgery on August 11, so exactly three weeks ago. I'm so happy I did it. I've lost just over 15 pounds, an average of 5 lbs a week for now. I expect this average to go down soon, but it's been an encouraging way to start. @@mlecompte, I think at your height/weight you may lose much faster in the beginning than I have. Everyone's body is different of course, and you'll see that all over the forums, but at my starting height and weight I'm THRILLED with this rate of loss in the early weeks, whereas in other parts of the forums you'll see much more dramatic numbers in the beginning. Wherever you start, and whatever rate you lose at first, WOW does it feel exciting and motivating to see a number that is definitively, clearly lower than last week's! And of course it's not even remotely all about the numbers. It's about the very beginnings of feeling like my body is mine again. One thing I didn't really understand or focus on before I had the surgery was how much the beginning of the post-op experience is really in (at least) two phases. I am not a doctor! This is just my experience, and opinion based on that experience. In the first month what you're really doing is allowing that new stomach to HEAL. Yes, you want to be healthy, and you want to walk daily if you possibly can. But to simplify all those post op instructions (I am not a doctor!!!), in the beginning you are: keeping yourself alive and your organs healthy by staying hydrated and getting your vitamins; increasing your chances of keeping muscle mass while losing fat mass by getting your Protein in; moving your body to keep circulation up and, yes, aid in losing fat, and basically letting your sleeve heal so that you won't have complications and so that it will be the tool you need it to be for your long term effective weight loss. The second phase is the one where you are really using the sleeve as a tool for long term nutrition and weight loss. It's not an overnight switch from one mode to the other of course. I just mean that generally, the focus initially is on healing, and if you get frustrated or confused about your surgeon's post op instructions, it might be because some of them have less to do with what you can handle than on what is likely to aid or impede healing. All a long way of saying that in some ways, the struggle changes many times, and for the first time --a different point for everyone, but I'm using one month as a placeholder -- around the time you are basically healed and the sleeve won't be compromised by trying regular, nonpureed foods. I'm not at that stage yet. I'm looking forward to it for social reasons. For example this week we were in a vacation house with friends, and it would have been nice to sit at dinner and have small portions of some of the regular foods cooked each night, or to taste some of the foods this area is known for. On the other hand, it is easy just to keep eating/drinking my fake foods and small portions of cottage cheese and the like. So when I say I feel like I haven't really started "full life" with the sleeve, that's what I'm talking about. I'm not having to make many choices or take many risks....but I'm also not getting to make many choices or take many risks either Anyway, a very long way of saying that even in these first weeks/months this journey changes! I'm so thrilled I took this step -- worth all the pre-op worry, all the (brief) post-op pain, and all the money. It's funny. I HATED seeing these numbers on the scale when I was gaining, just hated them and was so angry at and disappointed in myself. But I sure do love seeing them when I'm on the way down.

skinnyjeans, if your experience is like most people's, you are in the very hardest part now. I was sleeved on August 11 (exactly two weeks ago), and for the first day or two was very nauseated, I think from the anesthesia and the pain relievers they gave me. Other than that, my abdomen was very very very sore, like I had done 10,000 sit ups. It was hard to stand, hard to sit, hard to move around in bed. This made it hard to sleep -- never knew I moved so much in the night until each time woke me up! But after day 2 each day was appreciably easier than the last. A week after my surgery I went out to dinner (well, I looked at my friend's dinner) and a Broadway show to Celebrate a friend's birthday. Absent real complications, God forbid, you will feel noticeably better every day. During this time, if you're tired, rest! You'll have days when you feel perfect and then suddenly you get very tired...listen to your body. Emotional ups and downs are very common too. Not only has your body just been through a lot, there's all the mental and emotional work and pain that got us to this place. So be gentle with yourself. Congrats on your surgery and here's to a smooth recovery!

Congrats! What a great feeling that must be!!! Sent from my iPad using the BariatricPal App

Hi, I'm sorry if I'm repetitive here but still getting used to these forums and how to navigate. Wanted to introduce myself to this thread -- I was BMI 30/31 when I was sleeved on August 11. I hope (and think?) that puts me in this group? I wanted to let you guys know that it's so helpful to read your successes and struggles...and I hope to be able to return the support in time! For a little over a week I didn't really lose weight -- I was quite bloated from the IV fluids and I think my body was more like "WHOA there let's heal a minute!" after the double whammy of pre-op (including no Water on surgery day of course) then IV fluids and actual surgery, before pounds started coming off. They're coming off now, in a way that seems consistent with people starting around our BMIs. I admit that except for some walking I haven't been exercising yet, 12 days out. I try for a long walk each day and then I feel just exhausted. Hard to tell if that's from being out of shape or what. I think I'm doing OK getting my nutrients and Protein. Some days the last "batch" of fluids is hard. I'm trying to turn that around -- this morning woke up thirsty and got down 24 oz in a very short (for me) amount of time. Hoping that drinking more in the morning will make it easier to hit goal fluids than trying for some late night insane water version of a frat house chug-fest. Sorry to babble! At this early stage I'm so so so glad I did this. I was really in a bad place feeling like I was failing at so many things and just unable to make weight loss work. Now I feel like I own it. I know that stalls are going to freak me out but it helps to know that everyone (or most everyone) has them. I set a goal weight of where my weight was for most of my adult life...it's much lower than what the nutritionist thinks is my "goal" weight, but I know my frame and well, if I don't hit my personal goal that's fine! I just like seeing it there as something to work towards. Hi and thanks to everyone here.