Sosewsue61

Unless your budget is really really tight, I highly recommend getting smaller clothes as you go - because we have body dysmorphia and we fail to recognize/appreciate when we lose weight. It makes a big difference, it really does - it honors your hard work. If I put on my fat clothes, I feel fatter and like nothing is changing, if I put on those smaller fitted clothes I notice it a lot more and feel better. I especially like wearing a spanx camisole bra, a shirt that fits, and my skinny jeans from AE. Oh yeah!!! As opposed to my 2x pjs which make me feel that large.

Good luck. Saying prayers for you and your surgical team. Ask your anesthesiologist for the scopolamine patch for nausea just before they wheel you down. See you on the other side!!!

Do you do a barium swallow test after surgery for leaks? What support staff is available if I have questions? Do you have a patient support group? Do you have nutrition and/or cooking classes, lending library for bariatric information? Do you have a notebook/binder with all the acceptable/approved vitamins and protein shakes, appointments required, explanation of the surgeries, etc. Good luck.

You are exhausted on so many levels darling. You must get some liquids in or you will get sick from dehydration. I fear you are on your way to that already. Try some hot tea first thing in the morning, even put a half teaspoon of honey in it. The shakes sucked for me after surgery as well, for all the same reasons you list. I had the smell aversion thing as well and no desire for food either. I could only tolerate ready-made Isopure punch or blue raspberry diluted with crystal light. But homemade potato soup made with chicken bone broth and minced canned chicken was tolerated if I ate very slowly. Find two things you can tolerate and stick with it until you calm down and progress. I am glad you are quitting the toxic job environment and that you have family support - use it while you need to focus on your health. Keep us informed. Hang in there.

Yay for your fortitude!

A pillow for the car ride home to brace against your stomach. Slippers so you can walk the halls, unless you prefer the hospital socks. Ask the anesthesiologist for a scopolamine patch for nausea before they send you down - works great.

Congrats! Welcome to the sleeved life!

Congrats young lady, you are looking great!!

Matt, bless you and your surgical team. You are a profound and wonderful being and I just know you will do well. And I am certain a romantic love is in your future. We love you here on the forums very much.

Try sugar free Italian ice.

Complications are rare, recovery is usually very tolerable and mainly a learning curve on living with wls. Use this time to read, figure out your relationship with food, be prepared for big and ongoing changes. It is not magic, it is a successful surgery for weight loss if YOU follow your physician's program. Many of us would rather have had this surgery at age 24 and lived a healthy young life before the damage of being obese took its toll on our knees, backs, heart, and other organs. Most of us complete a 6 month program and then usually 0-2 months later have surgery. Good luck. Don't look back.

You will run into these types of family members and friends, they seem to be especially negative when something good happens. I try to not tell my business to them and change the subject - I even change it to be about them - make them the center of the convo - ' So I see you got your hair done, it's nice, or are those new pants.' Just be your fabulous self. And next time you don't invite them to your new cute place and she complains just say you were keeping her anxiety level down by not inviting her to such an unsafe neighborhood.

Sorry you have such bad news, hopefully the specialist can offer some hope and maybe there are treatments that will only postpone your surgery and not cancel it entirely. I wish you good luck and prayers.

Yep on steak, it's like a rock in there yet and chicken breast is tricky too. Fish is fine, chicken thigh, ground turkey etc all good as long as it's small and well chewed.

Fluff, breathe, stop the 'chicken with the head cut off' anxiety!!! That amount of 'soft' food is fine..... Just keep the train track cleared and 'A Train' singing down the line.

Stay in the present as much as you can. Take a bath, get a massage, get a pedicure, go buy a new scarf or necklace, do your makeup, rearrange furniture. We all miss chewing as we are programmed to eat for survival, but for now try to avoid cooking shows, or that type of thing. Thank your body for taking care of you so far, be kind to yourself💟. Oftentimes as obese people we live in the 'future', we live in our heads as the someday fabulous skinny self and as a consequence we lose 'today'. Don't lose today, embrace what you are now. Good luck. You can do this.

Ok. Yes protein drinks count initially because you need all the liquid you can get, but thick shakes aren't always as hydrating. Do not worry about meeting protein goals at first - get the liquids in above all else. Try warm tea, or broth first as it helps inflammation, or opposite - sf popsicles - each of us reacts differently. WARNING: smells after surgery could make you nauseous and so can some tastes. The food stages are all about tolerating textures, do not rush this if you find yourself nauseated. And you will have discomfort swallowing, lots of gas, belching, loud intestinal noises, you will have dry mouth from anesthetic. Carry a thermal cup with you everywhere and just sip, sip, sip and walk. BEG the anesthesiologist for the scopolamine patch for nausea before they put you under - it works so well.

Yes. I had right knee TKR 9 yrs ago - I was 60lbs thinner than my pre-op weight because I had been doing WW for over a year. Then like most gained it all back, I am very close to that weight 9 yrs ago now. It is of course less of a load on it thinner. Now about that pain you have now, maybe get an injection? Or have the doc check for an inflamed nerve - I get that from time to time because scar tissue rubs on a nerve, a shot usually calms it down but he said if it continues or gets worse he could go in and clean up the scar tissue and that should work. This is just a suggestion. It may not be your issue. Make sure to keep it stable while working out, maybe put a brace on it, I know if I square dance (twisting turns) for several nights in a row that can really aggravate that nerve. I was told to strengthen my quads by putting a 5# weight on my thigh while seated and do raises - those muscles support those bones. Good luck. And I hope your surgery goes well. What brand of knee do you have? Did you keep your knee cap? Can you kneel on it?

Oh good, glad you got some advice from your doctor. I hope this fixes it for you, these early weeks are all such a learning curve while you heal and learn to navigate after surgery. Good luck to you

I cannot tolerate white meat chicken, try thigh meat. It's a texture scale 0 is water and 6 is NY strip steak. White chicken is a 5, soft white fish is a 2.5.... You are not ready for chicken yet, stay a texture level lower for another week or two, everyone's progress is different.

Could still be constipation, even with a good poop your intestines move slower after surgery for a couple months. All that whey/milk protein is binding - I could not tolerate the sf pudding at all and have not tried it since. I nearly puked when i did eat it at week two. Let us know.

Make things you don't like to eat for the kids - I mean really! Were chicken strips worth it? Chips? If you HAVE to eat something stick to some tuna salad - at least it is protein and low carb and not likely to cause cravings or blood sugar spike. Drink bone broth for variety. It's hard to not want to chew, I know but we all had to do some version of this. And you can do it too....we were not super humans either. So buck up and throw out those chips...the kids won't miss them either - give them cut up apples.

Yes. But this eases up by 5 months, so beware.

Uh even your tattoo shrunk!!! You were beautiful either way, but now skinny and healthier! Wahoo!

And Catherine's ugly matronly old lady schtuff!!!