BayouTiger

Thanks for your response. I think you hit the proverbial nail on the head. My group of friends have always been my size (pre-pre-op). The 4 of us shared and swapped clothes weekly. So I do think that maybe you’re right, and seeing me lose weight this fast and in this manner is something that is bringing out the true jealousy. They were so supportive until they all saw me in person (quarantine and sx prep has made it hard to see people IRal) in the last 2.5 weeks. Then they dropped like flies. I guess they didn’t realize what it would entail. My pre op therapist warned me about a lot of WLS pts losing relationships over these surgeries, but I was naive and said nah not me, I’ve got the most supportive people in the world. Whoops. But as far as WLS “cheating,” it’s just bs. It’s like 100x harder than any fad diet you can think of. But if this surgery extends my life another 40 years, I’ll be a cheater.

Thank you very much!! I can’t figure out how to change my profile. At my post op they actually gave me my paperwork from the beginning of everything, and my starting weight at the clinic was 262 not 252. I am 210.4 as of this morning. I agree that 210 on me is nowhere near “sickly” but I guess them seeing me for all these years being “bigger” and then seeing me with noticeably fewer chins and my XXL clothes gaping on me, in their minds, since I was always their size, me not having that super full face and more pronounced stomach is their version of “sickly”; when a good bit of us going through WLS know that just because you lose 50 lbs doesn’t mean you’re anywhere near healthy or complete. I’m still 87 lbs from goal lol! I have been working with a therapist and ironically, we had a conversation about how supportive everyone had been so far. Jinx! Thanks for your response, I appreciate it. You’re 100% right, just because a friend was a friend doesn’t mean they have to continue being a friend when they stop supporting!

Thank you so much for your reply. I’ve been working with the counselor diligently. I was mentally stronger than I’ve been in my entire life going into sx, because going to the ER with BP so high it was in the “stroke” zone at 29 and being told I’m going to end up killing my self, really woke me up. I guess in all of the pre-op counseling, we worked through so much, including judgments from others. But I never in a MILLION years considered that these people that I considered more sisters than friends would do this. It’s just disheartening. Maybe it’s because they’re all the size I was when I started this and it’s projected jealousy. I haven’t told anyone else about the surgery but them and my parents because we have always supported each other no matter what. So for 3/5 of my support system to peace out on day 10 post op was just overwhelming. I’ll definitely be talking to my therapist this week about how to do this without my circle, but in a way that’s healthy and conducive to my journey not just physically but mentally!! thanks so much, I appreciate you!

Hi Frankie! Congrats on your surgery. I was sleeved 2/10 and I was literally only able to take more than one tiny sip every 30 minutes yesterday. I say and slept upright for over a week because of the “pooling in my chest.” Surgeon said some people just get really really swollen post -op and it makes the restriction even worse!! Just try and take in as much fluid as you can in any way that you can. You can stick it out a few more days! You’ll wake up one day and feel WAY better. Trust me I didn’t believe anyone who told me that when I was miserable the first 6 days!!! I wish you the best of luck! It does get better, hang in there!

Sorry this is kindof long, I’m at a loss and need some advice/encouragement. Hi all, Im a newb! Was just sleeved on 2/10/21 and have had a horrible recovery. I was in the hospital for 4 days and threw up for 72 hours. That was fun /: I’m finally home and I am struggling majorly with getting fluids to go down. It sits under my sternum and eventually ends up behind my molars trying to come back up. I first thought it was my sip size. But I have resorted to a very very small dropper where I’m literally dropping less than 10 mls of liquid down the back of my throat and letting it go down. It took me 3 hours to drink 8 oz today. I was wondering if this has happened to anyone else? It feels like the passage way for the water/broth to go down is the size of a human hair and it just pools in my chest. Leaving me sitting straight up, hardly breathing for 30-45 min because I can’t inflate my lungs from the “fullness.” I’m worried because I’m only getting 30-40 oz of fluid max, and my calories are less than 50/day. I’m not so much worried about protein at the moment, as I am staying functional. I have already lost almost 12 lbs since the morning of sx. Any advice is so very appreciated! And Happy Mardi Gras/Fat Tuesday from the Bayou State! (First time in 28 years I didn’t have a single piece of king cake )

I just wanted to say thanks for this suggestion. I actually tolerated a cup and a few sips of luke warm very bland, strained gumbo juice with a little protein mixed in. I was able to get in touch with my program director/NUT and surgeon today about what’s been going on. He said he doesn’t think it’s a stricture, but he thinks I’m just severely swollen from all the throwing up and foamies I’ve gotten. They moved my fluid goal to 48 oz, and protein to 20g just for the next few days. I was instructed if any muscle cramps, or severe lightheadedness creeps up I need to be seen at urgent care immediately for IV fluids. Today has been post op day 7 and it’s actually been the best day so far. Looking forward to continuing to heal so I can get this show on the road. I really appreciate all the help, support, and insight I’ve gotten from this community so far. Thank you all, truly.

This makes me so sad, because I’m in the same boat, and even just being a week out, the negativity from my “best friends” has been absolutely demoralizing. My friends that have gotten to know me in the last 5 years (me at my biggest) have always been “my size,” so when I got sick this year and found a hernia and some other health issues and decided to get sleeved, they were initially supportive because it would fix my illness... but now that I’ve been through pre-op and am now a week post-op, my best friend has been sending me Snapchat’s of Planet Fitness saying “must be nice never having to come back to one of these places again,” and another of her fitness tracker app saying “oh, look, I lost a pound. But I guess that doesn’t mean sh** when you’ve lost 40 since January. And then paid money to have 80% of your gut taken out...to lose more.” And it just honestly shocked me and made me so, so sad. I’m a hermit, I keep a very small circle and I feel like it’s just gonna keep shrinking. I wish I never would have told anyone but my immediate family. If you need any support or anything feel free to reach out to me. Hugs and best of luck on your journey!!!

Thank y’all so much for responding. My surgical team was not in office today, as it’s Mardi Gras holiday plus severe ice storm here in Louisiana, so the whole surgery center is closed. My mom (who was sleeved one week prior to me, 2/3/21) is having such a smooth sailing recovery, 34 years my senior, and it’s making me feel so discouraged. I got some popsicles today and that seemed to be the most pleasant way to get the liquids in, until halfway through the first one my pouch started burning like it had been lit on fire. So now I’m back at square 1. With my little medicine dropper and my room temp water/G0 mix! Tomorrow makes a week out, and on our program we can go to protein pudding and creamy soup, and I just don’t even see how that’s in the realm of possibility for me now! Hopefully Doc and the NUT call me back first thing tomorrow, I really don’t want to end up back in with IV fluids!! They blew 6 stick sites while I was there last week Thanks again for replying y’all! This misery is tilting me towards buyers remorse mentality and I don’t want to be there, I just want to get over the hump!!!

Hi! I also had VSG on Feb 10. I was just discharged a few hours ago. I was on a morphine PCA pump until 2200 last night. The gas pains subsided, but the actual surgical stomach site/muscular pain is really rough. I vomited over 40 times post-op. The pain was absolutely excruciating. My doctor did not send me home with ANY medication for pain. He told me I could take 2 Tylenol every 6-8 hours. I am staying positive however, as I know this was the right choice for me and my future and my health. As I’m sure that played a huge part in your decision to go through with the surgery too! Just try and remind yourself you just had major surgery, your body went through a lot of trauma, and don’t compare your recovery to anyone else’s! Healing is a process and a lot of factors go into it! Best of luck, we can do this! +1 for the ice packs on the incisions! Just be sure to not leave them on too long at once!