Sassy Sleeve

Three weeks post-op tomorrow. I did not work out week 1. Week two I started, and I could not do as much as I thought I should be able to. This week, on Monday, I was helping my son lift a lawn mower (I was supposed to just help him balance it - not lift - but I think he forgot) and I found myself lifting more than I should at this point in time. That was physically difficult. I have to do a lot of routine walking around in general life events... but exercise walking is still a challenge - I get winded easily. More than before surgery and more than I think I should. I am losing frustratingly slowly - so I know I need to incorporate more exercise soon! Tying to build it up!

Well, is anything working? I have slowed down, and I measure my foods. I chart everything I eat, and I am getting in my protein and I am under 800 calories a day. I know I am eating way less than I did pre-op, I am eating about 1/3 of a cup at a time. Weight loss has been slow for a little over a week - and that is FRUSTRATING! Last week I danced around up and down the same .5 to 1 pound up and down, then lost about two. This week I am dancing around the same way .5 up or down, but nothing lower yet... hoping tomorrow shows promise.

Surgery on 8/10. Healing has been good. Maybe too good? My biggest concern is I don't seem feel the restriction as I expected :-| However, my diet is only at the pureed stage - so maybe it is just that things slide down? My calorie count is around 600, but I feel like I am eating too much. Beverages go down pretty easily, but I do have to remind myself to drink to get in the recommended amount. I can see how one could easily regain weight with beverages alone. I am working on taking more time to eat the pureed foods (eating slowly is a challenge from my before WLS too). I have actually started to use a timer (and yes, I rolled my eyes when someone suggested that, but it does help). I also feel more hungry in the evening than I do during the day. While I was happy with my weight loss from the pre-op through the first week post-op, I have definitely slowed down... I am working at getting back to walking (the bring your heart rate up kind) and find that I tire a lot sooner than I feel like I should. Regular movement is fine. Building up stamina is a focus for this week. I too have had some minor constipation. I take generic colace daily, and that seems to keep things moving. The other thing... hubby and I went out last night to the horse races. Lots of concession foods around, and pre-op this was not food I would have been interested in eating, but for some reason last night the smells made me feel like I desperately wanted things like a hot dog and a beer. I did not indulge, but the sensation reminded me of when I used to go on extreme diets, then would get around forbidden food again for the first time... I have not been on an extreme diet since my teens, and the memory and sensation was vivid. Pre-op I would not have chosen a hot dog - so it was weird that I felt like that was what I wanted. The beer, I would have had, but I am committed to skipping alcohol until I get to maintenance (or longer depending on when that happens). If I keep having these types of experiences, then I think some work with a therapist who works with WLS patients may be in order. The other thing that I am learning, I must bring high protein items with me to eat so I don't get too hungry. Right now that is hard because most of my protein is coming from shakes - and that means bringing a insulated bag with an ice pack. Soon, I will be looking for high-protein snacks or mini-meals that are healthy and travel well.

I'll play! :-) Goal Weight: 208Current Weight: 238.8Today's Date: 8/25/2017

Just moved on to pureed foods. I start with protein (still eating mostly protein). I am measuring food. I eat what I have measured and I stop. I don't feel full, but during the day, I am satisfied and move on. At night, I feel hungry throughout the evening. I have never felt overly full, I have never had a sensation of eating too much. Post-op (thankfully) I only felt nauseous 3 times, and all three times that passed without getting ill. I feel like I must be eating too much, and I am just not sure? I eat considerably less than I did pre-op, but way more than I expected to, and eating is too easy. I expected that post-op I would take a few bites of sugar free jello and be full. Even when I had sugar-free jello in the hospital, I could take more than a couple of bites. Maybe because I am still on pureed foods, they are all still slider foods? Maybe I am eating too fast for the feeling of fullness to develop? Also, if something comes up and I do not eat on my prescribed schedule, then I feel quite hungry. For example, I had to help one of my kids with something today, and I wasn't able to have my protein drink on schedule, and I was quite hungry by the time I got to the protein drink. All of this is very concerning! I expected to have more of a limitation. I knew I had to work with the tool, but I expected more a physical sensation that would help. Overall, my recovery from surgery has been easy. However, I am feeling unsure how to maximize the effectiveness of my tool! Yikes!

I am two weeks post op. My plan called for a solid week of clear liquids, and now I have been on full liquids (protein drinks, malt-o-meal, greek yogurt without fruit chunks, soups made with milk, etc.) During the day, I follow a schedule and consume between 3-4 ounces of non-protein heavy options. I also get in my protein options. I am consuming right around the recommended amount of 65 grams. I am drinking clear non-caloric liquids all day (except for 30 minutes before and after the “meal”). During the day, I do get a little hungry, but I am easily satisfied by following the prescribed plan. At night, I feel hungry. I am not sure what to make of this… I want to believe it is head hunger… but I am worried that it is not. I was moved to full liquids last Friday – and the weight loss has been very slow since then. I am generally getting in about 600 calories a day.

And, clearly it has worked. :-) Wow! That is interesting. Working on not eating in the evening was one of my pre-op nutrition goals, so I have been feeling like I just should not do that. Thank you for the feedback!

If you are in that much pain, then you need to talk with your doctor about what they are using for pain management. For example, the morphine pump does not work for me - I found that out on a surgery well before this one. Not all pain medications work the same way on all people. They should be able to keep you comfortable.

I think this is really challenging sometimes. I am 9 days out. Just yesterday, I got to advance from clear liquids only - to full liquids and protein drinks. Included in that is cream of wheat cereal (as long as it is runny), cream soups (strained for any chunks), and greek yogurt with no fruit chunks. At the end of my 8 days of clear liquids, I felt hungry frequently. I could quell it with some broth, but it did not feel satisfying! Being able to feel like I am "eating" again is great. But, my weight bumped up overnight 1.2lbs - I am guessing/hoping it is because what I can eat has a higher sodium level and because it takes longer to digest the new additions. Today, I went back to measuring and recording everything. As of right now I am only at 446 calories. According to my plan, I am supposed to have some a protein beverage in a couple of hours - so I will top out under 600 calories for the day. That is about where I was during the liquid protein pre-op diet. I feel full, but I also feel like I am eating a lot. However, none of the food is solid. So, what would be slider foods in the future? I also think I am probably eating too fast - so I need to refocus on that. I do have a lot more energy than I did when I was only eating clear liquids! I do feel hungry, and the usual triggers cue hunger (food smells from other people making food in the house). I am satisfied with a small amount of food, so my guess is that everything is OK? I did think that I would not feel "hungry" at this point - and that is not the case for me.

My guess based on experience and reading other's experiences is that the work you are doing does not always show up on the scale the way we want it too. I had surgery on 8/10. I spent 9 days on the liquid protien diet. I did not cheat. In the middle of the diet, I was 1.2 pounds heavier than the day before. That corrected in one day. Overall, I lost close to ten pounds during the pre-op diet. A warning, after surgery the first time I weighed myself at home I was 4 pounds heavier than pre-op. This morning I was over 3 pounds below pre-op. I have read many times here... the weight loss is not linear. Sent from my SM-G950U using BariatricPal mobile app

I am not gotime0810, and I did have surgery the same day. All went well. I left the hospital the next day. I had no problems with the stairs etc... I was tired and it was hard to take in fluids at first. Today, I am off the narcotics and driving again. I am still a little sore, but Tylenol is enough. Bending can be a challenge, but if I am careful, I can manage. I did not realize that they want us to sleep at a 45° angle... I have an adjustable bed at home, but had hubby go buy a neck/travel pillow after the first night at home. I am wearing the elastic stomach band when I am out and about. It helps keep everything stable. So overall, everything has been fine. Sent from my SM-G950U using BariatricPal mobile app

Yes, once I had that last set of pre-op appointments I felt nervous and sad. Then I went on the liquid protein diet and I lost almost 10 pounds. Once again, I felt like maybe I can do this on my own - no surgery necessary. Two things that I had remind myself about were: #1, I was super-compliant during the pre-op diet. Would I have been as capable of being super-compliant if I was not doing what I felt was necessary to be ready for surgery . The answer (over any length of time) is no. #2 I am in the position where I have been approved for needing this surgery. Yikes! Despite having decades to fix the problem, I could not sustain success. I am only two days post-op - so by no means an expert, and I can tell you that my relationship to wanting to eat food as changed. My hubby and kids have handled the cooking since I went on the pre-op liquid diet. When they were cooking or eating during the pre-op phase - I tucked myself away in a different part of the house - the food smelled so good... Post-op the food still smells and looks good, but it does not feel tempting right now. I had read where others had written that, but I did not think I would feel that way. I think (as of now) that this surgery will give me a chance to re-calibrate my relationship with food. That is not something that could have ever happened without the surgery. If you are mostly nervous about the surgery, then I will pass along my experience - the surgery went as planned. I definitely had surgery and I am recovering, however, things have gone well. I wish you the best on your path to better health.

I had my surgery on the 10th - and came home on the 11th. Overall, it went well. Considering that I just had surgery, I feel pretty good. I am working on getting my liquids in . My first follow-up appointment is on the 18th - so nothing but clear liquids until then. I have only felt nausea twice, and fortunately it did not go past that feeling. I do have an anti-nausea patch and anti-nausea medication. I gained a little bit of weight compared with my pre-surgery weight (about 4 pounds), but I understand that is not unusual. Psychologically, I do sense a bit of shift in how I feel about food. I am curious about how that will evolve in the coming months (and more importantly years).

Thank you Monalyssa33! Just finished getting everything ready... now I need to try to sleep. My goal is to be like you.

[quote post="4500527" timestamp="1502235832" name="2017Warrior" I'm scared to death, but I'm tired of being this heavy. The doctor told me my body will remember being thin and will push itself back with this surgery. Here is to hoping. Sent from my SM-N900V using BariatricPal mobile app I am sorry you endured that trauma. I wish you the best on your path back to physical health. Sent from my SM-G950U using BariatricPal mobile app

Good for you! I had laparoscopic surgery for a different issue once before... I remember pain from the gas. Not looking forward that. Glad to hear that overall you are feeling good! Wishing for your success to continue! Sent from my SM-G950U using BariatricPal mobile app

Hi Togunrinde, Wow you were just sleeved yesterday! I hope you are feeling good?

How has the process been for you the past 6 months? My surgery got bumped up a day... so it will happen on Thursday (8/10). Sent from my SM-G950U using BariatricPal mobile app

My surgery just got moved up one day (now on 8/10) - Yikes! Overall, it is a good thing - it means I will be one day ahead for recovery! Also, one less day of the pre-op diet. I am grateful for the this forum. I have lost 9 lbs in 7 days on the pre-op diet - and at moments I think to myself - why am I having surgery, shouldn't I just do this on my own? Then I read posts that remind me why I am having surgery... It is not because I have not lost weight before, it is because I have always gained it back. The surgery will help create a new set-point. Also, I have not been on a diet this restrictive before. So, while I have dropped a bunch of weight - this is to make surgery as safe as possible - the pre-op diet is not a long term solution. The pre-op diet has also forced me to more closely examine some of my food habits... While I was mentally prepared for the lifestyle changes ahead, I think the pre-op diet has forced me to examine a few things and recognize that I have some additional habits, psychological, and magic thinking barriers to overcome. I loved going to new restaurants and trying new foods (and adult beverages). I liked cooking, and I can make some super delicious food, and (for now) those things are not a part of my life. When I am able to have some of those things come back into my life, they will never be the same again. It is sad for me. However, I made this decision because I want to be healthy. I want to enjoy life for as long as possible. Better to be able to travel and try just a few bites of a new food (instead of the whole serving), than to die of an obesity related co-morbidity. Better to be able sustain an active lifestyle and not have any restrictions because of my weight. Here's to whats to come... toasting with a protein drink (for now). Thank you for sharing your journeys with me! I wish all of you success!

Good luck too you too!! I am on Friday... as I it is sneaking right up!! Sent from my SM-G950U using BariatricPal mobile app

I am going to keep Kowalski's in mind. Thanks! I am hopeful that being less hungry post-op will make the deprivation easier! Sent from my SM-G950U using BariatricPal mobile app

Glad to hear you are doing well! Yes we do have good choices here! I had a laperscopic pr procedure several years ago (completely unrelated) and I asked the surgeon if they had figured out how to avoid the pain from the gas... no such luck. It has been interesting to me to read about all of pre and post op protocols. Mine seems easier on the front-end ( only 10 days pre-op liquid protien - t hen 1 day clear liquids). But after, 7 days only clear liquids, then two weeks protien, then pureed foods... so a long wait until food can be reintroduced. Is yours similar? Sent from my SM-G950U using BariatricPal mobile app

@linziyo How are you feeling? My surgery will be at Methodist. Where was your surgery? Sent from my SM-G950U using BariatricPal mobile app

I am in the Twin Cities too. Surgery coming up on the 11th. I hope all is going well for both of you! Sent from my SM-G950U using BariatricPal mobile app

Sounds like you made a good "catch" and are holding yourself accountable. I find that hopeful. I also find your before and after pictures inspirational. Best wishes getting back on track! Sent from my SM-G950U using BariatricPal mobile app