Tabatha C

Hey I'm in the Merrimack valley area too! I'm near Bradford College. Tabbs*

Hey I live a little north of Boston in the Merrimack valley area. My niece was sleeved last oct and I was sleeved this September. Would be nice to meet other sleevers Sent from my iPad using the BariatricPal App

My baby girl is 2.5 and she is 38lbs and 39in. I had help from family luckily... but I'm not able to fully lift her yet. I was sleeved on 9/12. I have a 1.5yr old who's 32in and 27lbs. I'm able to pick her up now and carry her. So maybe by week 5 or six. It's hard but fortunately my oldest listens most of the time. I honestly limit my time out with them because I'm worried if she throws her tantrums while we are out, I won't be able to carry her. Just be patient and talk your son through it. My daughter was as understanding as a toddler could be about mommy having a boo boo and can't pick her up. Good luck! Best wishes Sent from my iPad using the BariatricPal App

Hang in there. I remember breaking down several times the first two weeks. Unfortunately I suffered from a rare blood clot and made my experience harder and made me feel more depressed. I thought the pain I felt for 4 days was gas but the last day was so unbearable. Point is.. listen to your body. The actual gas goes away but if you still feel funky.. don't hesitate to call your surgeon. A lot of the procedure is mental... at least for me it was. You ALWAYS have great support here. And it does get better. I'm entering my 4th week and I'm still struggling a bit but I am not regretting it as much as the first week. Good luck and best wishes! Sent from my iPad using the BariatricPal App

Thank you everyone for kind and motivating words. I'm now 11 days post op and unfortunately I have spent the last 2 days in the hospital. I happen to be so special that I fall in a very small percentage of patients who experience a blood clot in one of the veins in my stomach. Partly could be due to genetics but it is something that could happen to any one. I thought it was really bad gas blocked up, so I dealt with the pain for about 3 or 4 days until I was practically crawling into the doctors. The sent me for an emergency ct scan and labs and they found a big clot in the middle of my belly. I have now been on heparin and pain meds for 3 nights. My surgeon says I may be here until Sunday. Upon discharge I will be on blood thinners for 3 months. And to make matters worse, I may not advance to purées until my 3rd week. (Which at this point I don't know what's worse) If any of you haven't had your procedure yet or just had it done, please please please be mindful of your body. Even if it seems like someth no silly to call the doctors. It doesn't hurt to ask, it's better to ask and get an answer on the phone or be seen and have it be nothing or something small than to dismiss it until it's unbearable and you end up like me in the hospital. I'm anxious to get home and be with my babies and just feel normal again. Sent from my iPad using the BariatricPal App

I bought flavored extracts. Like strawberry and banana mixed into a vanilla Protein shake. Also, I dont know where you're at but I live in New England and there is a store that has an incredible variety of flavors like pancakes, butter pecan Cookies, vanilla and chocolate cake, and so many others. You can find them on Nashuanutrition.com Best of luck! Sent from my iPad using the BariatricPal App

It is so hard. I have a friend who did the "chew and spit" but I'm so scared I'll actually swallow something I don't even dare. I know some people come out of surgery and for weeks they have absolutely no desire to eat anything. I am on the other end. And like I said, it's not necessarily junk food.. just food in general. Had a birthday party yesterday.. TORTURE. so I left my kids and SO there. One promising thing I keep hearing though is "it gets easier. It gets better. Just be patient" Sent from my iPad using the BariatricPal App

I had the sleeve.. and I know I made the right choice but It's really hard for me right now. I am so overwhelmed and wish I could find more people in my area support groups to be open about this side of reality. I'm only 6 days post op and I am really having a hard time. I am so hungry, I feel starving actually..like how I did before. I drink my little sips to fill me up but am struggling with any liquid intake which is getting scary. I never want to see Jello again.. and the sugar free popsicles we got are waaayyyy too sweet for me. I have just started my Protein shakes 2 days ago (as directed by my dr) and I'm even struggling with that. I have 2 kids under 3 who need to eat well balanced meals. Even cooking for them or feeding them is stressful. I'm not necessarily craving, I just want to be able to eat something. This is definitely harder, for me, than when I delivered my girls. This surgery is a physical process but it is absolutely mental too. I have already broken down and cried. I had to tell my SO and mom to stop bringing home or eating certain foods around me. It is to a point where I sit in my room when they are cooking or having a meal. I am saying all this not to deter or scare anyone.. but to hopefully help someone else be some what mentally prepared for after their surgery. I was told about depression after surgery.. but did not realize it would be like this. It's actually common for patients to second guess their decision and to feel sad. It's just hard to go thru. Hopefully someone else can relate and help me with sharing their experience. Sent from my iPad using the BariatricPal App

I just had my sleeve done on 9/12 and I have been struggling too. Getting tired of the recliner and couch...Even when I was 8 and 9 months pregnant I had to feel like I was sleeping on my stomach. So, I lay on my left side at a bit of an angle. Lay a pillow down the long way first and then stuff a comforter in between me and the pillow and also my legs. The comforter is more plush (kinda like my belly) so I can lean on it a little without completely laying on my stomach. Sent from my iPad using the BariatricPal App