logicwand

My doctor told me drinking before, during, and right after eating fills your stomach and you can't eat what you need to eat. You will feel uncomfortably full if you drink and eat. I am almost 4 weeks out and find I have no problem drinking before or after I eat. In fact, I drink a bit after eating because I want to feel fuller. I eat my meal and get plenty of protein (scrambled eggs) but I will end up feeling hungry an hour or so later so I begin drinking soon after eating my eggs. Maybe this isn't good, but I thought your intestines do most of the nutrition absorption, not your stomach. *shrug*

Had the same thing, I think. VERY painful type cramping after drinking water. Doctor said I'd be fine but didn't have any advice/meds for me. The pain medication I was sent home with didn't alleviate this. Each day the pains came less often and less severe. But it took an entire week for it to completely go away. Nothing I did helped. For me it was just time, unfortunately.

I took a lot of naps too. Sleep is also important for recovery. I was very tired and weak for about 2 weeks post op. I would always feel better when I woke up from a nap. I’m starting to get some energy back. Yay.

How long does this last?

Wow, you look fabulous! I’m so thrilled to hear about your energy increase. I am soooo hoping this happens to me too!!! Congrats!!

What great motivation! Enjoy it!!! And Congrats!!

And nothing beats having a good medication. But I know finding the right one takes time and is frustrating.

This is really bad but I haven’t been counting calories. It’s probably anywhere between 400 and 600. I’m getting at least 60g of protein but have a harder time reaching 64oz of water so I have to really push myself. I’m walking my dogs about a mile each day. Nothing too strenuous yet!

My doctor knows I smoke an e-cigarette with a very low nicotine juice. I quit smoking cigarettes in 2012. Best thing I’ve ever done. I’m smoking my e-cig and I’m 3 weeks post op. I plan to quit this too. But I’m taking baby steps. One life change at a time for me. Lol

Congratulations Elsee!!!

Kristen! I feel for you!! We're like twins! Except I don't have a child. LOL I have suffered from depression and anxiety for YEARS... and the sad part? I didn't even know that's really what it was! I had to go through a mental breakdown at work and drink non-stop before I realized something was dreadfully wrong. Long story short, I'm on a medication I have found to work the best for me without any horrible side effects (Lamotrigine) and I had gone to CBT every other week for two years straight. Before surgery, I was doing VERY well with handling the depression and anxiety - however, I was very unhappy with my health. It hurt to move and I had absolutely NO. ENERGY. TO. SPEAK. OF. Like zero. I'm 3 weeks post op and I still have no energy. LOL. BUT! The idea is that as I slowly lose this weight, my energy will slowly come back. I have drunk my entire life. Starting out with beer in high school/college and then onto wine later. Lots of wine. It doesn't matter what night it was, I would have a drink in my hand (and an e-cig in the other). This was the case right up till 2 weeks before surgery (pre-op diet). MY weight, my drinking, my joints, my liver... ugh, I could not continue this life style. I was ready for a HUUUUGE change. I was sleeved on 2/28. I am still smoking my ecig. It's my only safety blanket now. Everything else is gone - FOOD & WINE. I had to stop the Lamotrigine because you can't swallow pills post surgery. I will have to tritrate up again when I can incorporate regular foods in my diet again. I only see my therapist these days on an "as needed" basis. I will definitely be posting my tribulations and successes in the future. Goal is to get back on my medicine, see my therapist possibly more, start running again, eat better (though not perfect and read the forums here for the rest of my life. And Wine? Yes, I plan on having a glass for my 42nd birthday in September! Hehehe.

I ordered the Patch MD vitamins. I love them. I bought the multi, B12, and Vitamin D/Calcium. I just slap them on my love handles and head to work. I hate taking pills and this is just easier for me. I have my follow up lab work in 2 weeks so I'll see if they're really working. They're not super sticky, so sometimes a corner will flap up. I hold them down for several seconds before I put my shirt on.

I was cleared for soft foods starting today - at exactly three weeks post op. I was sleeved a day before you on 2/28. I have had no problems eating anything. Unfortunately! LOL I am starting to eat tuna salad, egg salad and scrambled eggs in addition to my protein shakes, and soups. I'm really sick of yogurt right now. Ugh. Trying to figure out what else I should/can eat.

I was wondering about this! I would like to start exercising more but I just don't have much energy. I am 3 weeks post op. I'm looking forward to that increase in energy that everyone seems to enjoy post sleeve, but I think I'm just still in that recovery phase I guess. All I have energy for is my work day too! LOL So glad to hear that you are back to your triathlon training...that is amazing!!! This is very inspiring.

What carb count should I stay below in the 6 weeks post surgery?

This is a great question. I'm almost to that stage. Interested in seeing what the first food stuffs people started eating! Anything backfire? LOL I am so ready to crunch too!

I've only seen people turned down if they are high risk patients, meaning they have health issues that will make the surgery dangerous. Not sure exactly what those conditions would be. All weight loss surgery programs require you to lose weight prior to surgery. I know at least two reasons for this - 1) To shrink your fat liver. Surgery is extremely difficult if your liver is too big. It blocks your stomach and makes surgery virtually impossible to do safely. Losing weight shrinks your liver. 2) To train you to eat better for after surgery. I'm not sure where you live or if you have cable, but there is a very popular show in the US called "My 600lb Life". Surgeries are performed on very obese people safely. You will have to lose weight to be approved for the surgery, but the amount will depend on your doctor. Don't worry. Thousands have done it and you will too!

I hear you! I also forget to wait to drink 30 minutes AFTER eating. (Or to stop drinking 30 minutes BEFORE eating). I'm able to drink immediately before and after eating without any discomfort. The only thing that made me feel really satisfied at this stage was mixing my Celebrate protein powder with milk. I'm on the pureed stage now and have found that mushed up scrambled eggs make me feel full. Don't worry, it will change!!

Neither my doctor nor dietitian gave me a goal weight! I thought that was so weird. Glad I'm not the only one. When I was running and lost weight on my own, I hit 140 lbs and I felt healthy and looked proportionate. When I saw that my height at 140lbs was in the middle of the healthy BMI numbers (22), I picked it for a goal. If I can't get there again, it'll be disappointing, but I certainly want to try!

Fluffy, I'm having this issue too. I'm having to apply Blistex more often. I also use Aquaphor on my lips at night...fancy petroleum jelly. But, as you know, it's annoying and it doesn't make the dry lips go away.

If you waited for every distraction and life event to disappear before having surgery, you will die before ever being sleeved. LOL I'm sure not all of these people are toxic in your life, they just care and are worried. It REALLY sucks that you have to reassure them when you're looking for reassurance yourself. I think you're making the right decision and you have us here to continue to vent!! But most importantly, I can't wait to hear about your progress in future posts!!!

I don't think there are many people here, if any, who have been sleeved with a starting BMI of 27-30 (regardless of co-morbidities and health issues). Being overweight sucks. It sounds like you've got about 15 -20 lbs to lose. It also sounds like your doctor may help you with this. I know in the United States, you'd never find a doctor who'd perform surgery on you. It's interesting, I think as thousands and thousands each year prove successful with the sleeve, the medical industry may begin to consider more seriously people with lower BMIs. In the meantime, I wish you luck in your quest for better health!!!

Congrats on your weight loss! Do you feel okay energy wise? Are you working out rigorously too?

Right! It's so strange. Some of it has peeled away around the edges, but it's clinging to those incisions really good. Lol

I didn't have gas pain at all. The only real pain I had was upon swallowing anything. The doctor said I'd be fine and there was really nothing they could do. Each day it got better and better. But it was pretty rough there in the beginning for me. Especially when you have water goals to hit.