Sammi_Katt

It really depends on if you are letting yourself heal. My scars occasionally twinge even though I'm five months out. The swelling went down for me after about three weeks, but at that point, my gallbladder was failing, so the tenderness didn't go away for me until after I had that removed. The beginning is hard, but you just have to take care of yourself. Keep hydrated, keep on walking every day, and make sure you are getting sleep. ❤️

It lasted about a week, so hang in there. Chewable gas-x is your friend, but do you have anyone that can help you by pounding on your back? Think burping an infant- it helps so much. I also tried to make myself burp (results may vary and include vomiting, so don't do that all the time...), but it did eventually go away. If it's pain in your shoulder, a heating pad helped with that. Good luck; I remember how much it sucks. But you will get through it very soon. ❤️

It's working for me. I'm almost five months post op and have lost nearly 80lbs. *Fizzy drinks are a no from my doctor, but I've heard mostly because the carbonation would be painful for your banana-sized stomach. *Every surgery center is different. I've seen some people on the diet for one day prior, or on it for two weeks prior (like myself). *It wasn't the surgery that was painful, actually. I was in mild discomfort, but I was fine with just tylenol afterwards. It's the gas that hurts- just means you need to move, move, move. Lots of walking is very helpful. And how light is light? I was told nothing heavier than 15lbs for three months. *It also depends on how you heal. I was eating solids a month after surgery (SOFT solids, but solids). I'm eating crunchy things now, but it did take me about two months before I could without discomfort. *If I overeat, I feel bloated and sick. I haven't vomited yet, but I've had water/food just sit in my throat and come back up before. It's why you eat slow and don't drink while you eat. You eventually get used to it so it's second nature, but in the beginning, I used a timer to help me while I was eating so I wouldn't overindulge. *I feel like it slowly expands. When I first started out, I was barely making 300 calories a day. I'm almost 5 months out and eat between 600-800 calories a day, currently. I eat about 2oz worth of meat with each meal, and that is just enough to not make me overfull. *Strangely, I cannot eat tuna anymore. Like canned tuna. The smell completely turns me off. My husband has ordered fries before from fast food places and the smell of that makes me gag. A lot of food tastes and smells will change for you, but mostly in a good way. I crave healthy foods now (though I occasionally miss the bad foods, it's not as hard to stay away from them now). *Not at all. I even had complications with my gallbladder failing right afterwards and I still would do it again. Just wish I had done it sooner, is all. It's scary- it's life changing. But if it's something that can potentially add years to my life, it's worth it.

Yea, it was https://www.americanmedical-id.com

It took a while for me to find vitamins that the taste didn't make me vomit, but my doctor approved me taking (of all things) Flintstones Complete. I take half and wait 15 minutes to do the other half, then I eat my breakfast 30 minutes after. If you have chewables or pills that can be cut, try waiting a bit between it and see if that helps you any. Also, the farther out you get, it DOES get easier to take them in one go. Just hang in there and keep taking them. ❤️

Honestly, I'm not sure. I have NO insurance... AND I had a complication (my gallbladder failed three weeks out and I had been in and out of the hospital until we figured it out). I'm sorry I can't be more helpful, but I would suggest maybe asking your insurance? They should be able to tell you, and I'm sure it's dependent on the company.

You are aware that you made a mistake and you are doing what you can to make sure that doesn't happen again. The diet is to help with liver shrinking and self control. Some surgeons require one day while others require up to a month. One mistake won't screw up the whole thing, just don't make it a habit. Hang in there and try not to stress about it, and stick to the diet the rest of the way. ❤️ congratulations on the surgery date, by the way! ❤️

I paid out of pocket. I don't have insurance at all, and I saved up for a while. They have options for financing, too, if you need to get a loan or anything. I was basically able to call them and tell them I wanted the surgery, they did their preliminary tests on me, and I was good to go.

So.... weirdest thing ever worked for me. I take a stool softener every night for right now, but what's been helping me is that I've trained my bowels to go at the same time every day. You sit down first thing in the morning or whenever (and use a stool or a squatty potty!! it helps with tearing and hemorrhoids!) and wait for about five minutes. Let gravity do its thing, and only push if you *really* need to. After about a week or so, I've been able to start going fairly regularly because my body expects it.

Honestly, I don't miss the bad foods. After the surgery, I started craving better foods. My taste did change a little, but I eat REALLY tasty and healthy food now. I've lost almost 70lbs and am so happy for it. I tried OA for a while... it is a *very* guilt based program. I'm sure it works for some people, but it made me overeat more...

I actually used the Fast Track program, and I paid entirely out of pocket. They had me on a two week pre-op diet first, which I started on December 24th. I made my first appointment (the check up, talking with the dietitian, and the EKG) for January 2nd, came back in to speak with the surgeon on the 3rd, then had my surgery on the 6th, IV vitamins on the 7th, and I was back home on the 8th (I live in Nevada, so it was just a drive for me). Honestly, the program is worth it. They pay for the hotel they put you at, transportation to and from Blossom and Warm Springs surgical center where you'll have your surgery, and it really is "fast track." The people there are lovely, and almost all of them have had the surgery themselves, so they are really sympathetic to any concerns or fears. It was also nice because I didn't have to stay in a hospital. I was up and walking around 30 minutes after I woke up from surgery, and then pacing around the hotel the rest of the night. It was much less stressful on me because of that.

I had my surgery with them on January 6th with Dr. Sakata. They were wonderful and I wholeheartedly recommend them. The people were caring (almost if not all of them that work there have had the surgery, so they understand the nerves and everything and can sympathize), and when I had a few complications from my gallbladder, they helped me take care of it and took it out as well (a month after my sleeve).

A heating pad, sip hot tea, and tylenol. That sucks, and I feel your pain. *hugs*

Today is my three month post sleeve day, and I have lost a total of 61.4lbs!!!!!! This is wild- I'm SO close to my high school weight again. No more blood pressure or cholesterol meds, I have more energy than I've had in years, I crave healthy foods and eat well... this is the reason I had the surgery. I needed that push to get me going. It's been the best tool I've ever had to become healthy. I am just legitimately so happy to finally feel like a human again... after I'm finished with my breakfast, I'm going out on my new bike for a victory lap lol

I do these from time to time. They're tasty and super filling! https://www.barilife.com/blog/10-single-serving-meals-you-need-in-your-bariatric-life/

From what I hear, everyone loses at different rates, and if you start heavier, you lose a little faster. But your numbers are still amazing! And I'm glad you feel better.

I am actually having a better time eating well. The people in my town (small town) buy out Smiths and Walmart, but Albertsons (a slightly more expensive store- bleh) has healthy food and I've been able to find what I need there. It's been easy to stick to a meal plan because, honestly, I don't buy snacks (my husband, girlfriend, and boyfriend do, but they don't eat them around me and they are kept in a separate cabinet) and I don't eat badly. Because I work from home anyway, but can't go anywhere, I spend my free time playing video games (Beat Saber and other active games at the moment, or if I'm playing my switch, I'll use my mini under desk bike), and my boyfriend just bought me an actual bike, so I'm super looking forward to that. So basically (and super fortunately), just super bored and trying to find ways to pass the time. Spent all day today cleaning out our shed and tossing old furniture and driving the rest to Goodwill (which is still open for today).

I live out in the middle of nowhere, so I've been going for walks every day. I have also been making use of my VR headset to play Beat Saber, and order RingFit for my Switch, so I'm playing games and working out at the same time so I don't get too bored with it. Otherwise, I'm making resin coasters and doing cross-stitching when I'm not working. And I baked some black bean brownies the other day because I wanted chocolate.

I don't have protein shakes, but yesterday, I had 80 grams of protein. Breakfast: Egg white omelet with 1 slice of jennie-o turkey bacon, 1 oz of boar's head cajun turkey, 1/8c of fat free mozzarella, 1/8c spinach, and a xtreme wellness spinach wrap tortilla: 24 protein Snack: 1 reduced fat string cheese: 6 protein Lunch: xtreme wellness spinach wrap, 2 slices of jennie-o turkey bacon, 2 oz boar's head cajun turkey, 1 tsp of spicy mustard, and a tbsp of Philadelphia garlic and herb cream cheese: 23 protein Dinner: 2.2 oz of chicken breast, 1 slice of jennie-o turkey bacon, 1/4 slice of tillamook swiss cheese, 1/8c cabbage, 1/8c spinach: 19 protein

After the liquid diet, after a normal diet, before a normal diet... lol My stomach talks to me constantly.

Would still recommend seeing a doctor to check your levels, but having a low dose doesn't hurt (I have some IN my multivitamins that I take too, since a lot of the fruits and veggies with a lot of potassium I cannot eat yet).

I eat spinach and cabbage a lot, but it's super well cooked. I *can* eat PEELED cucumber, and I enjoy it with laughing cow cheese from time to time, but that's the only raw veggie I eat at the moment. Carrots and green beans are okay with me cooked, but I have to make sure I super chew them, especially the carrots, otherwise it makes me a bit uncomfortable later. Broccoli can make you a bit gassy, so try not to overdo it on that? But protein first, and always protein first. Veggies are nice and all, but it's a 2:1 ratio of protein to veggies.

It took a few weeks, but I can "drink" fairly normally now. I can't full on chug water, but I can take fairly normal mouthfuls without any discomfort now. The farther along you get with your recovery, the more you will be able to do things comfortably. ❤️ Hang in there.

I want to weigh daily SO bad, but I weigh once a week. Otherwise, I'll drive myself insane. Can't do once a month- I'd tear my... hair? out. (I shaved my head this week lol).

It depends; from what I've seen, most surgeons do have some sort of diet plan, though the length and what you can have are different depending on who you use. I know a lot of insurances require some kind of weight loss before you can have surgery, but I paid for mine out of pocket. When I went on my plan, my dietitian gave me a written out thing of what I could eat and when- 1 protein shake for breakfast and lunch, and then a small (4oz) serving of lean meat with 1 cup of veggies. I know some people have to do full liquid, and the time can range from 1 day to 14 days, or maybe even longer. If you feel like starting early, good for you; just try to eat the things you'd be eating after surgery. It will be a lifestyle change. I practiced eating slow and not drinking water with meals- that was the hardest thing to give up, honestly. Good luck! ❤️