AEdoesRnY

also I feel like I would react VERY differently to another fat person approaching me and commenting on it vs. a skinny person, knowing that they’re coming at it from potentially a similar place/with empathy/etc.

In my experience (losing weight on other occasions, not this time around because I’m only three days postop) even when people notice they don’t always feel comfortable saying anything...they worry that commenting on it implies that they think you needed to lose weight or acknowledges fatness (former or continued) that usually they fastidiously pretend not to notice, etc. I would say that people are noticing, even if they’re not “able to put their finger on” what’s changed or just feel unsure about mentioning weight... I found that if I got a haircut or a new outfit that gave people an outlet to tell me I looked great without them having to worry about the whole weight/fat minefield....

What dosage of milk of magnesia did you all try out? Sorry for TMI, but I’m day three of post-op and am very blocked up, feeling like I need to BM pretty bad but not able to get anything going. The recommended dose is 2tbsp with a full glass of Water, but I’m only drinking 1oz every fifteen minutes...I’m curious what you all tried and what worked for you...not sure whether fill 2tbsp is too much or if just doing the 1tbsp is not enough?

I'm also curious - how long did you wait to weigh yourself after surgery? I feel temped but I'm also guessing all the fluids from being in the hospital and the healing process means weight loss isn't really happening/major part of the process right now. Debating whether I should just wait until my one week follow up with surgeon (if I have the self-restraint) or if I should weigh myself sooner...

It's weird to think that today is only day 2, I feel like it's been a lot longer! I've heard that day 5 is the magical day of feeling somewhat healed/back to normal...I can't wait! I've only been able to burp and I've minimally passed gas like 3-4 times from "that end" but no BMs yet. My pain has been off and on, some pretty sharp pangs of gas, I think, and some general ow, stitches and staples inside feelings. They sent me home with Dilaudid (only 15 pills with instructions to take 0.5-2 every four hours as needed). I've had two so far today - one this morning and one this afternoon - and I'm planning on having 1 or 1.5 before bed. My nurse said I could have some chewable GasX, and that actually seems to be helping a lot (though I just took it 15-20 minutes ago...). How's walking going for you?

Also, clean hair sounds like a dream to me right now. I am nervous about showering as yet, might find some dry shampoo to see if that makes me feel slightly more like a person, otherwise I might have to shower tomorrow...

It is! I think since I got mine done at Children's Hospital that might be why no dressing are there cause kids move around! So for all surgery's they use the glue I just have the glue as well! Some of them don't look great though...

So great to hear you're doing so well! I'm eagerly awaiting feeling as good as you are! I'm on my first full day home, had surgery on Monday at 7:30am. Walking for 5-10 minutes has been going okay, I'm having some pain and MAJOR bruising along incision lines, but I've been managing pretty well! The whole drinking 1 oz very fifteen minutes thing is getting old, especially since I have to sit up straight to do it...I kept finding a comfortable/relatively painless way to sit/relax and then the timer went off again...getting up and down is what's been hurting most, I think! Anyway, looking forward to incremental progress over the course of this week! Thanks for sharing what one week out has looked like for you!

Trying to decide how soon to do the MOM. I had surgery 730am on 7/30, so I’m only on my first full day home...do you think around day 4 post-op makes most sense?

I was prescribed dilaudid, which I was also getting in the hospital. They only gave me like 14 pills even though the instructions say take 0.5-2 every four hours as needed...I’m nervous about running out!

Hi friends! Tonight is my first night home from the hospital and I feel really crappy. I’ve been getting down the water ok but haven’t been able to pass any gas and there’s still a lot of pain even with meds. Any suggestions or glimmers of hope for those father along than I am? Surgery was yesterday morning...

I had my surgery this morning and I was super nervous last night, even had a lot of trouble sleeping. A lot of second guessing even though I’d been thoroughly sure that it’s what I wanted and very thoughtful about evaluating the pluses and minuses. This morning I had nerves but nothing too major and I was lucky to have a morning appointment (surgery was at 7:30am). Since waking up I’ve had zero regrets or nerves, just excitement about a new adventure! There’s been some pain but nothing major, and I’ve walked around the unit three times. You’ll be great, find ways to do good, non-food self care to get you through until surgery day! Congrats and good luck!!!!

Thank you!!!

Trying to sleep but can’t stop thinking about and trying to anticipate what tomorrow is going to be like and how I’m going to feel after making such a drastic life decision! Keep worrying that I’ll show up and I’ll have messed something up or forgotten something and they’ll cancel or postpone the surgery. So much adrenaline and anxiety, trying to do some guided sleep meditations (using calm.com) but not getting anywhere... Any suggestions for the night before surgery jitters??!?

Thanks everyone for your help and support!!! Made it through to the other side, daydreaming about chugging ice water - my surgeon doesn’t allow me to eat/drink anything until 6am tomorrow, tough because my surgery was at 730am! Some pain but mostly controlled by meds, was up and on a decently long loop around the floor around 3pm and walked to the bathroom to pee a little bit ago. The walking feels fine but it’s the getting in and out of bed that made me hurt a little! Overall I’m feeling good and I’m very excited to be starting this new era! Thanks again!

Thanks! I’ll do my best to resist continually picking up my phone! Deep breaths!

Jess! Hope you’re doing well post-op! Mine is in the morning and I’m freaking out a bit too, I’m excited to be on the other side soon! Hope you’re recovering well!!

I'm on Monday too! I have definitely still been hungry (or maybe even just "snacky") some days of pre-op. I'm also weaning off my ADHD meds this week which has appetite suppression as a side effect so that could be part of why I've still been feeling like eating frequently. Also summer school ended last week (I'm a teacher) and this week I've just been puttering around at home which means more time to think about/want food! I'm nervous but also SO READY for it to just be surgery day already. I've been obsessing and worrying and planning and wondering and all that for SO LONG that I just need it to be here already - I want to start dealing with/actually doing it instead of just thinking and worrying about it all!

So I haven't had surgery yet, so I am definitely not speaking from experience (SORRY!), but I wanted to share an article by one of my all-time favorite authors who had WLS this past January. She wrote a memoir about her body/weight a year or two ago and between that and this article I feel like so many of my feelings/thoughts/anxieties were echoed and processed in a really thoughtful way. Even on the pre-op diet it's been hard to separate out head hunger vs. physical hunger vs. the need to feel like I'm chewing something as well as the emotional part (feels stupid but there is a bit of mourning food that is happening for me). "The Body that Understands what Fullness is" by Roxane Gay https://medium.com/s/unrulybodies/the-body-that-understands-what-fullness-is-f2e40c40cd75

Yes! I'm in MN, if you're also central time it'll be actually the SAME TIME haha! I hear you about the not having food as the go-to for comfort/reassurance/distraction. I've been having to stick to Netflix and avoid things with commercials because all the food ads are TOO MUCH! It's been good to get a head start on getting used to eating like this, but all these nervous/second guessing/scary nagging thoughts keep creeping in! Last week was my last week of teaching summer school so I don't even have students to distract me, just sitting around at home counting the days down. How is the liquid diet going for you? I only had a two week liquid diet, I'm jealous of how much weight you're probably losing on your three week but it's been hard getting through just my first 1.5 weeks, I can't imagine having to do an additional one on top of that! Good for you!!

@Geminisky I’m 7:30am on 7/30 too! Also 5:30 arrival! I’m so ready for it to just be here already but also getting more and more nervous! Mostly antsy and excited though! How are you feeling?

Wow!! I’m halfway through my pre-op liquid diet and success stories like yours keep me going!

I add taco seasoning to my beef broth (I use better than bouillon) and it’s delicious! I was surprised!

My first appointment was 2/2/18, and I was approved by insurance before the end of May. I am a teacher and wanted to wait until summer and after summer school so my surgery is a week from today. Not all insurances require the six months of supervised diet!

My pre-op diet is shakes for all three meals and I’m allowed two snacks per day of broth, fat free low sugar yogurt (1/2 cup), fat free cottage cheese (1/2 cup), sugar free pudding, sugar free popsicles, calorie free drinks like vitamin water. And no caffeine.