MegPRN

I'd like to get a laurel wreath tattooed on the base of my neck, to symbolize my victory over myself. It would be very delicate and feminine, too, which is something I never felt I was when I was at my heaviest.

The not being able to tolerate solid food sounds kind of normal to me. The guidelines my doctor gave me said soft foods only (pureed meats, mashed vegetables, scrambled eggs, refried beans, ricotta, cottage cheese, yogurt) until week 4. You're just barely past week 3. I'd stick to super soft/mushy stuff for a few days and see where you get. I'm coming up on 8 weeks, and I still have discomfort if I eat something that's too big or not soft enough. Be gentle to yourself and don't rush. We're all relearning how to eat

My next milestone: less than 220 lbs means a double-digit weight in kilograms (I know, I'm a nerd). That will be a pedicure. Next milestone after that: 216, which will be halfway to my goal. Not sure what my reward will be for that. And then the big Onederland milestone. Might try to get out of town for a weekend with the hubby when I get there!

They don't submit to the insurance for approval until you've jumped through all the "hoops" required - in my case, my insurance required 6 consecutive monthly visits with a provider in the surgeon's office, a sleep study, a visit with a clinical nutritionist, psychiatrist, and cardiologist, and a couple of other things. It sounds like you may just not be used to the insurance system in the US. Your chart was probably flagged because you came for your initial appointment but failed to come back for consecutive appointments, so you're essentially starting over.

This week I started a new job - I'm an RN, but my new position is office work and non-clinical (so I can't wear scrubs anymore). Today I'm wearing professional pants in a size 16, purchased off-the-rack at a regular store. I don't think I've been this size since high school - my entire adult life I've bounced between 18 and 22. I feel amazing.

I have a hard time with most meats. I can tolerate meatballs in sauce, but that's about it - even deli meats sometimes hurt going down. I eat it anyway, though, because if I didn't I would only get protein from cottage cheese, tuna, or shakes (i can tolerate things like greek yogurt, but I don't like the taste anymore). I don't throw it up or anything, but it makes me feel crummy and tired and my stomach hurts until it passes through. I also mostly get by on soups. Sometimes shrimp is ok, and when my husband takes me to a steakhouse for dinner, he gets a steak with a lobster tail on the side and I eat that. Bread and grains in all forms make me feel crummy, too. Overall, not much variety! I'm getting used to it, though.

Jultrim, I had my sleeve surgery the same day you did. I completely agree with your description of your experience. This weekend, it had been a while since I ate and was getting close to lunch time. I was ravenous. Craving all kinds of bad stuff. But, I stuck to the "protein first" rule, and after about 3 bites of chicken my stomach was stuffed full and couldn't physically take anymore.. but my head hunger was still there and angry. It's like the opposite of how I used to eat. I'd get a craving, eat the craving, the head hunger would go away and I'd be satisfied but I wouldn't really feel "full" until later, if at all. It's so frustrating to not feel that psychological comfort/satisfaction from food anymore. I know that's sort of the point of all this, and I'm happy with the result! I'm just frustrated with the means to the end right now.

My experience with pain post-op was really unpleasant. I was having some pain the first night, but I couldn't take anything by mouth until the doctor saw me in the morning.. so I got IV hydromorphone (dilaudid - synthetic morphine, very very concentrated). I've used it before when I had my gallbladder removed and did great. Didn't feel "high", just took the pain away. Well, this time, it was causing extremely severe nausea. I assumed it was just from the surgery, and didn't put 2 and 2 together until the day after surgery in the evening. I ended up staying an extra night because I couldn't get my nausea under control, which meant I couldn't keep anything down by mouth. When I switched to oral pain medication, it was like flipping a switch - my nausea was gone, I could keep liquids down, and I didn't have pain.

Aidanog, if it makes you feel any better, I'm an RN that places PICCs, in addition to other specialty IVs. It's a very routine, low-risk procedure with very few complications. If you're okay with the surgery, you're going to get through the PICC just fine. They should numb you with a little lidocaine that stings a bit, but after that you shouldn't feel anything else, and everything is done through a single needle stick. You'll be fine :)

I'm feeling okay now. I get that weird gurgly feeling when I drink, too, and if the temperature isn't right I get a sort of stabbing pain in my back. I haven't had diarrhea (or any bowel movement at all, except gas). Overall, though, not much pain and no more nausea, so I feel pretty good!

After months of preparation and insurance approval rigmarole, I was finally scheduled and had my surgery! Official pre-op weight was 264 lbs. I haven't been weighed since surgery, so I don't know how much I've lost so far, but I feel lighter already. Day of surgery was rough.. I was in a lot of pain and constantly vomiting or dry heaving. The first night I actually threw up bile and old blood.. it was awful. And I couldn't drink anything to get the taste out of my mouth. Finally my kind nurse gave me a small cup of water to swish and spit, and I felt better. First day post-op was kind of rough too.. more nausea and pain. I think the IV pain medication was making the nausea worse, though, and I was having a hard time keeping even water down. I took a few walks, though, and a shower, and that helped me feel a lot better. Last night was less vomiting (only because I tried cranberry juice.. maybe the acidity didn't sit well?) and my switch to oral pain medicine helped too. This morning I feel like I turned a corner. I've been keeping my broth and Crystal Light water down, and ice chips are amazing. No more nausea, just a little pain. I'm going home in a few hours. So happy I started this journey! Thanks for reading my diary entry ;)

Hi everyone! This is my first post on this forum. I'm scheduled for a sleeve on August 16. My doctor doesn't require a specific pre-op diet, they just recommended losing some weight (and not gaining over starting weight) over the course of the 6-month doctor-supervised diet plan. I'm happy to be here, and finally taking my health seriously