Spatulachick

Hey everyone! So I’m a little over 3 months out from my sleeve - so far, aside from some reflux issues, it’s been incredible. I’m feeling better, not using my CPAP anymore, able to keep up with my kid and nieces and nephews, and I’m shopping in the regular section of stores! 🙌🏼🙌🏼. So this might come across kind of like a silly worry but I know we have to worry a lot more about our nutrition and doing things a lot more healthful than someone with a regular size stomach. So I was hoping to just get some reassurance. So my starting weight was 222.8. I started the pre-op diet and lost 15 lbs on that, surgery on 6/12/18, and I’m just under 50 lbs lost post surgery - as of this morning, I was at 158.2 (which is awesome, don’t get me wrong. 😂. I haven’t seen that number in about 14 years). My goal weight is 125 (I’m short at 5’1 and have a medium frame). I’ve been pretty proud of my progress but I feel like my weight loss has sped up in the last couple of weeks. I just started my period yesterday, and typically, I gain 3-5 lbs in the week before I start (less since surgery because I assume I’ve still been losing even with my period). I’ve actually lost 2 1/2 lbs over the weekend and have lost about 6 lbs over the last week. I have goals set up and typically, it takes about a week and a half to two weeks or more to hit my partial goal (they’ve been about 9 lbs each) but I just hit my 164 goal last week and I’m already really close to my next one. I am following my doc’s plan (at this point, I eat 3 meals and a snack if needed, 400-500 calories a day, 1/4 cup of food at each meal - this goes up every 2 months) and taking my vitamins and calcium. I hate exercise so I’m not doing much of that but plan to start soon 😂. I can’t eat more than what I’ve got on my menu for each day - I’m too full. So is it normal to still be losing this rapidly at 3 months out? I’m only 34 lbs away from goal and if I keep losing at this rate, I’ll be there by 6 months out. I feel like it should be slowing down by now but is this just normal or just how everyone loses differently? Thanks for your help!

I don’t know if you’re talking about a specific area but I bruise like mad everywhere 😂. I have bruises on my arms and legs and it’s ridiculous. I did tend to bruise easier pre-surgery and post-surgery, it’s even worse. I was told it’s normal to bruise more post-surgery so I’m just keeping an eye on them.

Thank you, Milton! I like to worry a lot so this is one more thing to worry about. 😂

This is actually kind of hilarious to me. I have been on my program perfectly since my surgery two weeks ago but weird stuff is happening when I sleep. 😂 Last week, I had a dream that my nephew had made a strawberry cake (strawberry flavored cake and strawberry buttercream) and I woke up just as I was finishing a piece in my dream. And a couple of nights ago, I dreamt that I’d had a SIP of ginger ale (Vernor’s, if anyone cares) and I woke up feeling so guilty that it took a minute to realize that I hadn’t actually done it. 😂😂. Anyone else having food dreams? Is it just because I’m dying for soft food? Amanda

I always tell myself I can be done and then I play with a baby or toddler 😂. I just played with my 1 1/2 year old niece and she was so much fun - I would totally do it over again. ❤️ Good luck to you!! I feel like getting pregnant in our forties isn’t as big of a deal anymore.

I’m 43 and I’ve been dealing with secondary fertility for about 8 years (my son was easy to conceive). We had pretty much given up on getting pregnant (we couldn’t afford IVF) but once I hit a year out of my VSG, we’re talking about giving it a shot again. I do think my weight had something to do with it. It’ll mean getting pregnant at 44 and probably giving birth at 45, but hey, who wants to go quietly into middle age? ❤️. If it works, it works. If it doesn’t, we’re pretty happy with how life’s going now. We still have one awesome 11 year old. ❤️

I take it every night. I have serious issues falling asleep and if I don’t take it, I’ll be awake all night most of the time. I use the melting kind.

Thank you! I’m feeling better today! I’m working on getting more protein in (the protein shakes have been hard to get down but I am seriously working on it) and I’m going to try to get more water and broth in. I tried calling the doctor on call last night but apparently, they hung up on me. 😂 I will call the office in the morning, though. My goal is to get more than 64 Oz in today. I appreciate the advice!

I’m about 12 days post op and have been doing okay. However, tonight, I was just sitting on the couch and got up to take my jello bowl to the kitchen - I’d only been sitting for about 45 minutes - and got so dizzy that I had to call my husband from the other room because I thought I was going to pass out. It passed but it really just freaked me out. I have been getting my fluids in, I thought, but could this be a sign of being dehydrated? Or something else? It’s really got me a bit nervous.

I’m 12 days post op and my follow up appointment isn’t until Thursday - my surgery was moved up two days from the original date so we kept the post op appts - and now I’m wishing they’d moved those up. I’m struggling - I don’t think it’s hunger necessarily but I’m tired of protein shakes. I’m having a hard time getting them down. My list says broth only so I’m not even sure I can do soups like the butternut squash one. I’ve gotten a few Campbell’s soups, vegetarian vegetable and chicken wonton, and have been straining the broth to drink - it’s been a nice change. But I can’t wait to chew something. Or at least have a different flavor.

I didn’t even think about sashimi (I usually go for tuna and salmon sashimi or nigiri, if I’m feeling like the rice). Thanks for the heads up - I’ll have to ask my doc when I can have it when I start eating regular food again.

I bought a couple of shirts and a pair of shorts I liked from ThredUP - the shirts are XL and the shorts are a 16. I figured it’ll be at least a few months but lo and behold, the shorts almost fit 😲. Another 10 lbs and I’ll probably be able to wear them comfortably. I have had issues with even a size 18 fitting right in a lot of brands. Also, the shorts are white. What the heck was I thinking? 😂

I’m using the same flavor for 4 bottles. I can switch it out if I want and just go back and forth but I have an issue with leaving things half done 😂. Also, I still sip from it. I just try to get a little out at a time and it doesn’t seem to be an issue.

I was given IV Tylenol first and was in pain afterwards, so they gave me IV painkillers until midnight that first day (I think it was Dilaudid). After midnight, I took the Dilaudid pills and Tylenol until discharge. After discharge, I was given a script for 30 Dilaudid pills. I’m actually on a pain contract with a pain management doctor for a bulging disc and arthritis in my back - so technically, I’m not supposed to get prescriptions for pain meds from other doctors. However, the pain med I regularly take causes constipation and because I’m not an abusive patient (I go for urine tests every few months), my nurse practitioner who oversees my script had no issues with my surgeon giving me a prescription. It did require a letter from her to my surgeon’s office but it wasn’t a problem. My daily pain meds don’t really do much good anymore anyway so we’re going to talk about discontinuing them at my next appt at the pain doctor. I did end up taking my full prescription for the Dilaudid because i was having some trouble sleeping at night due to pain and it also helped my back - I had issues with constipation on the Dilaudid as it was, and didn’t want to go back to my Tramadol and make it worse. For about four or five days now, I’ve gone back to my Tramadol (one pill two or three times a day - usually 2) and Tylenol. For some reason, my incisions still hurt but it’s not bad like it was right after surgery. I know there’s an issue with opioids but it drives me nuts that it’s causing people in actual pain to suffer. I also hate that those of us who actually take them for legitimate issues and don’t abuse them are looked at as part of the problem when we’re just trying to get through each day without being in constant pain.

Gypsyvangirl, I take Tramadol for back problems and it really doesn’t do much. I’m hoping the more weight I lose, the better my back will feel. I’m 10 days out and just had a long outing to the movies and to pick up a few groceries and I’m exhausted. (I was already exhausted after my shower). I am excited - I ordered a new water bottle - it’s called a Cirkul bottle and it comes with these cartridges of flavoring. The water doesn’t do anything unless it goes through the cartridge. I just tried the fruit punch (zero calorie or sugar or anything) and it’s amazing. It’s delicious. It also helps that it’s a sport bottle top so I can sip easier and not take big gulps. Definitely my new favorite tool for this surgery.

8 days post-op from sleeve! Feeling better and actually went to my surgeon’s office’s monthly support group tonight. Granted, I’m exhausted now, but I met some awesome people who helped me feel better (I’m currently feeling crappy about mom guilt and just so tired of liquids) and I’m looking forward to seeing them next month.

I’m a ‘closet atheist/agnostic’ right now (my close friends are aware of my beliefs but I haven’t told my family, mainly because I don’t feel like dealing with the fallout from my super religious brother and sister-in-law and my mom, who attend a super culty mega church). But I don’t care if someone prays for me. I asked a group of friends for good thoughts before my surgery, or if they prayed, I’d welcome those as well because I know it’s how they express their caring. It’s a part of them. It doesn’t affect me a whit. It’s the same reason I say ‘Merry Christmas’ to Christian family and friends, Happy Hanukkah to my Jewish friends, Happy Ramadan to my Muslim friends, and Happy Festivus to my atheist friends 😂. I respect them. As long as they don’t show disdain for my beliefs, I can show respect for theirs.

Mine was about 3-4 days after surgery. It does get better. Just walk as much as you can!! I know everyone says that but it does work!! Amanda

I’m so glad to read this - I was about to ask if anyone did this. I’m okay with just the broth of soups just for the different flavors. I think I’ll get some soup tomorrow and strain the heck out of it. I’m 8 days post op and I’m getting so tired of protein shakes, too.

Hello! June 12th sleever here! I feel like I’m getting used to the restrictions of my stomach with liquids, at least, but I’m sure it’ll be a different story when I start on soft foods next Thursday. I’ve had a rough couple of days - partly because I’m still exhausted and I feel guilty that my poor kid has been stuck at home with me all week because a short trip to the store wipes me out every day. I’ve just felt kind of depressed the past couple of days but I’m sure it’ll start to get better. Aside from that, I’m happy with my loss - 224 before the pre-op diet, 198.8 a week after surgery. Hope to meet some new folks here!