Sassy Sleeve

I felt like I was too hungry - too frequently until I was finally able to move past all of the soft phases. I find that if I start with dense protein, then I feel full quickly. It sometimes means adding more protein. For example, when my family has spaghetti, I will eat the meat sauce with either spaghetti squash or zoodles. I found very quickly that I had to add small turkey meatballs (just a couple) and be sure to eat those first. I keep small meatballs and cooked chicken frozen, and ready to go. If I don't lead with lean dense protein, then I frequently feel full so quickly that I cannot finish. I have also found that meal planning/prepping, and measuring food ahead of time helps a lot.

I was given some blood thinners via injection. The bruising where I was given the shots looked horrible for a while. I had forgotten about the shots, but asked about the bruises at my one week appointment. That's when the nurse said "those are from the blood thinners"...

Welcome Krista! I had my surgery at Methodist. I had a good experience there. Sent from my SM-G950U using BariatricPal mobile app

Officially, the program I am working with recommends not weighing in so frequently. I weigh myself daily. At times, this has been frustrating. However, at this point (11 weeks out) it has helped me understand my body and my weight loss patterns. I know that I will go down to a new low, then over the next several days I may bounce around (up to 2.5 lbs) above that low before hitting the next low. As I said, early on this was frustrating, now I understand that it will happen and it does not stress me out (as much). I am currently using Fitness Pal to track my weight . I only enter new lows, and I don't record the little jumps back up between lows. Having that to examine the weight loss over time is very helpful. After the initial drops my weight-loss has felt so slow, but looking at it over weeks is helpful. I have a hard time "seeing" my weight-loss. The other things that has been helpful is recognizing the NSV. I had to buy all new pants. Also, I am almost done shopping in my closest. Those things can offer a boost when the scale is not moving as quickly as we would like it to.

Hi Meg, I had surgery on 8/10 - so about 10.5 weeks out. I am down almost 43 pounds. I had an easy physical recovery. I was in the hospital a little over 24 hours. I wanted to get back to things as soon as possible - so I stopped taking the prescribed pain pills and was driving again a couple of days after surgery. I do have a very flexible job, and I work mostly from home. I started working again a couple of days after surgery. I have not had issues with any foods as they were reintroduced. The post-op liquid phases were challenging. I felt hungry during those phases - I did follow my plan (I didn't cheat). Also, during the pureed phase I felt like I could eat more than I should. Then I counted calories, and I realized I was not really eating that much. Prior to surgery, I did not expect some of the mental changes. My spouse and I really enjoyed trying new restaurants, we liked tasting menus etc... And, that is no longer a reasonable activity given the restriction created by the sleeve. I also really liked trying new recipes and cooking. I do mourn the loss of those things. I still enjoy eating... but it does not bring pleasure like it did before. It has been more of a mental challenge to deal with that than I expected. I am glad I had surgery. My physical health is better. I think this was the right decision for me. If I could go back, I would do it again.

Hi Meg! I did not have surgery at ANW, but I did want to welcome You! [emoji4] Sent from my SM-G950U using BariatricPal mobile app

10/20 220.6 Sent from my SM-G950U using BariatricPal mobile app

221.6 Sent from my SM-G950U using BariatricPal mobile app

It is a big cleaning day at my house today. I am considering getting rid of some of my summer clothes that should not fit next year. So those of you have been doing this longer than I have, is this premature? Right now things are loose but serviceable. I am planning on keeping enough to make it through, what I hope will be, a long warmish fall. [emoji4] Sent from my SM-G950U using BariatricPal mobile app

10/6 224.6

I asked about being able to lay flat at my one week appointment. I was not having issues with nausea or re-flux and I was OK'd to lay flat. I flipped onto my stomach right after that. I had a few stomach pains if I moved in an odd way. I used the support belt a lot the first week. My stomach incisions did not hurt much.

9/28 226.6

I have used to get horribly nauseous, and would be violently ill after anesthesia. I had to have surgery last December, and I talked with the anesthesiologist about it before the surgery. They used a patch behind my ear (and may have done something a little different with the medications used). However, the end result was no nausea! I was at the same hospital, but different anesthesiologist and again, we talked about the nausea - they put the patch on - and I was never ill. On day 1 and day 2 after surgery, I briefly felt nauseous, but I never got ill or threw up. In my case I got anti-nausea medication while in the hospital, I took one dose at home on day 2 post-op, but that was it. I did not need any more of the medication. I think I felt nausea after the sleeve procedure because of the procedure. I don't think it was a reaction to the anesthesia. I just stayed still. I think the anti-nausea pill is one that you melt under your tongue. Others have different experiences, and I was quite worried about nausea, but it did not happen.

@kimtree Sure! If there are things I can answer here, I am happy too. I could also respond more privately if that is more comfortable.

@erd Glad things seem to be going well! I have experienced ups and downs along the way. I am still glad I made this decision! The physical recovery from surgery has not been challenging - I wish the same for you!

9/22: 228.2

I do weigh daily. The team I work with recommends against that. Last week at my 1-month follow-up both the nurse and the nutritionist urged me not to do that. I still do it because it helps me be aware. However, I will hit a new low and then bounce back up a bit. Earlier on the yo-yo up and down was a bit more. Now it is about a pound though it can be two pounds by the end of the day (I don't often weigh more than once a day). At first, it was very disconcerting when I would see the the weight jump up a bit. After weighing daily, I can kind of sense when the weight is going to be a little higher or lower. It depends - did I drink all of my water and get in all of protein? Have I been regular or constipated the past couple of days? Have I been able to exercise and adequate amount? Also, the bounce-ups have gotten to be less as time goes by. So, yes! It freaked me out. I thought I must be eating way too much etc... However, I refocused, and I used an app to track daily calories etc... The weight loss is not linear. Yes! I have felt like I was going to fail, and that I must be doing something wrong. Yes, I feel like I need to work on being better about somethings. So, you are not alone in bouncing up and down. You are not alone in feeling like this won't work. At my one month check-up I asked if my weigh loss was on-track - and the nurse moved the screen to show me where I was and where they would like me to be - and yup - I was on-track. I wish you the best on this journey - it isn't easy!

9/15: 229.6

My experience was that the pureed stage made everything like the dreaded "slider" foods. I did not feel full. As I moved to food that was a little more solid, then I felt the restriction more. After realizing I could eat more than I felt I should, then I started measuring. Sent from my SM-G950U using BariatricPal mobile app

Weigh in 9/8: 233.6

Ditto! Call the doctor! Let us know you are OK when you are able.

Weigh in 9/1: 235.6

Congratulations on reaching that milestone!

My surgery got moved up a day - so I was on clear liquids for 8 days (my program is very limiting). As much as I say I don't feel "full" like I expected too - once I started eating some food - I eat far less than I did before. There is no comparison. I think it is more that the constriction I expected is simply not there the way I expected it. Both here and in face-to-face support group I go to, people talk about only being able to eat 1/2 an egg or less at first. I am able to eat 3-4 oz of food. Thankfully, I have never thrown-up. I have not even felt nausea since day two post-op and that was very minor. So, those are the good things. I have followed my program - and it is clear that this tool will help, and my bigger worry, that I will need to address is that while it will help, I am not going to have a honeymoon period of "I just can't handle eating that". Yes, I understand that eventually everyone winds up in a place where they can regain the weight by returning to bad habits. Honestly, I think it is a double edged sword. I certainly don't envy people who are sick for months and get dehydrated. However, I would love to feel like I have to remind myself to eat - and I don't. I have to measure my food, or I could sneak in too much. I am hopeful that when I eventually get to the point of being able to eat not softened protein, that I will feel more of the restriction. If I follow the prescribed eating pattern, which alternates food with protein, then I feel satisfied. I have learned though that when I am running around, I have to carry a protein shake with me - if something happens and I get off that schedule, then I feel hungry! I am committed to making this work. I just keep thinking I should feel more full more easily.

Congrats! Yes, I think expectations do play into it! I was happy at my 1-week post-op appointment. I was down almost 22 pounds (one week pre-op and one week post-op). Now 12 days later - I am down not quite 25 pounds... that is only 3 pounds in 12 days - and at this stage - so close to surgery I just thought I would be losing a little faster. However, If I re-frame it to 25 pounds in 30 days... then it is significant. 9.5% of my starting body weight in 30 days. Plus, while the purpose is different, the pre-op diet and immediate post-op diet are not that different than some fad diets... and pre-sleeve I would have gained significant weight back moving forward to eating other foods.... and I am still losing. I wish I had a better sense of what expected weekly weight loss is... My next appointment is at 1-month - and I do plan on talking with them about this at that point in time. I will probably call next week if I am still seeing the scale move this slowly - just to get a sense of what is expected.