Aunty Mamo
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Everything posted by Aunty Mamo
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Iʻm roughly 6 weeks post-op this morning and have begun to feel like a normal human, with a normal human body again. I started introducing solid foods and pill forms of medications/supplements a couple of weeks ago and it's really amazing to eat meals with my family again, despite the fact that my portions are so much smaller than theirs.
I live on the island of Oʻahu and spend a lot of time in the water- for exercise, for play, and for spiritual & mental health. The day I had my month out appointment with my surgeon, I packed all my gear in my truck, anticipating his permission to get back in the ocean. The minute I walked out of that hospital I drove straight to the shore and got in that water. Hallelujah! My appointment was at 10 am. I didn't get home until after 5 pm.
I'm down 31 pounds since the day of surgery and 47 since my pre-op diet began, with that typical week long stall occurring at three weeks. I'm really starting to see some changes lately- some of my clothing is too big, some fits again. The most drastic changes I notice however are in my face. I've also noticed my endurance and flexibility increasing. I was really starting to be held up physically, and I'm so grateful that I'm seeing that turn around in such short order.
My general disposition lately is hopeful and motivated. The only thing that bugs me on a daily basis still is the way those supplements make my house smell. So stink! But I just bought a smell proof bag online that other people use to put their pot in. My house doesn't stink anymore.
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Can I have dandelion root capsules after surgery?
Aunty Mamo replied to K Ramirez's topic in POST-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
You can start taking capsules again whenever you’re cleared to take pills again. I was cleared a month post-op. Alternatively, use dandelion root tea. I’ve been drinking that stuff for years. If you don’t have a back yard full of “supply” to dig up and hang to dry, you can usually buy it loose or in tea bags at your local health food store. 😉 As far as safety is concerned, I can’t think of any reason you shouldn’t use it. -
Tomorrow marks two weeks since surgery day and while I'm feeling remarkably well and going about just about every normal activity, I did wind up with a surface abscess on on of my incision sights and was put on an antibiotic that made me so impacted that it took me more than two hours to eliminate yesterday and scared the hell out of me. Now there's Miralax in all my beverages that aren't Smooth Move tea. I cannot experience that again. I shouldn't have to take Ativan to go to the lady's. I really looking forward to my body getting with the program again.
I'm in day three of the "puree" stage of eating and despite the strange textures, all of the savory flavors seem decadent.
I timed this surgery so that I'd be recovering during my spring break. That was a good plan. Today is a state holiday and the final day of break. I feel really strong to return to school tomorrow.
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I saw the term, momentary "buyers remorse" on someone's thread the other day in reference to having bariatric surgery and last night I understood when I had a fatigue and anxiety melt down. I went back to school at age 48, once the majority of my kids were gone and I could spare the time. I take a full time course load, so my house gets deep cleaned now only during school breaks. This spring break I didn't expect to get much house and yard work accomplished, as I expected to be recovering from my sleeve surgery. But here I am, nine days after surgery and in the last days of spring break and I'm feeling great. My doc cleared me to do any physical activity that didn't hurt and I seem to have full energy, so I decided to go to work yesterday on a kitchen deep clean. From about 8 am until 11 pm (with breaks and liquid meals all day), I cleaned the fridge and pantry, scrubbed the oven, washed the microwave and toaster oven, dusted the tops of cupboards, washed drawer fronts and pulls, mopped- all of it. My kitchen looks like I just moved in. "Seemed" however is the operative word here. When I came up to go to bed, I was more exhausted than I've been in I don't know how long. And then, when I got a side stitch just off to the left of my tiny new stomach, I started to panic. I manage a somatic anxiety disorder and an attention deficit- and once in a while, particularly when I'm too tired, I have an epic storm that just has to run it's course. So, I paced around my bedroom hyperventilating for 20 minutes and rued my decision to have this surgery. All I could think is, "what have you done?!?" It was pretty awful. This morning I feel fine, aside from an emotional hangover, which is really just what the absence of adrenaline feels like after a panic attack. Other than that, I'm glad I had the surgery again. I'm going to do some light yard work today in between naps and offer myself a helluva lot more grace and leniency. And tomorrow, I'm going to have my first solid food (puree) that I've had in a couple of weeks. That first two tablespoon serving is going to be magical.
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I don’t typically buy prepared foods but when I saw these in Whole Foods I knew they’d come in handy for this stage. They’re really tasty actually and I’ll probably buy them again, although I don’t know how often once I’m participating in family meals again. Buying enough of those small packages to feed my household is an expensive proposition.
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It was divine, yes! And I honestly didn't believe for a moment that 2 tablespoons of food would suffice, but it sure did. It was oatmeal made with protein. For lunch I served myself a four ounce serving of cottage cheese, and managed to eat 2 ounces before I was full. And dinner was broccoli and a chicken meatball pureed in broth, also a 4 ounce serving, of which I could only eat half. Everything tasted so good though. So, so, darn, good.
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Neurological disorders and divergences can present themselves in a number of interesting and baffling ways; and are rarely particularly rational. If you're bewildered as an onlooker, count yourself fortunate to not be one of the millions who have to experience and manage them. I just figure if I'm going to participate in a public forum as a part of my process, I may as well document all parts of it that I'm comfortable sharing. Maybe someone else will read my story line and relate. I appreciate your well wishes and am also always glad when I start feeling better.
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Strongly struggling
Aunty Mamo replied to Mrs. Ross's topic in POST-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
I had my surgery on the 13th as well, although my surgery was the sleeve. So here we are, a day away from our first week with our new internal mechanics. Iʻm just going to take a minute to congratulate us both for being brave enough to do this. While I understand that the "food onboarding" process differs from procedure to procedure and even surgeon to surgeon, I hope youʻll consult with your surgeon or program before you eat solids. My program considers sugar free jello a liquid. Would that suffice? I get it, believe me. I made my husband go to our local Pho restaurant last night and buy me just Pho broth because I couldn't stomach one more sweet drink. Regarding meds, I had to switch a couple that were time release to rapid release so that they could be safely crushed for daily consumption. Did your doctor tell you that all medications and supplements had to be liquid, chewable, or crushed for the first month? Mine did, and while the chewable vitamins and calcium are a treat because I get to chew them, crushing the others and trying to mask their awful taste with a protein shake is disgusting. I'm not getting used to it. Like you, I'm not in any pain and for the last two days, even the gas has been minimal, so I must've finally expelled all that surgery gas. Again, congrats on your big decision and hang in there. -
Shadows of Postpartum Circumstance
Aunty Mamo posted a topic in General Weight Loss Surgery Discussions
I'm four days out from having my sleeve gastrectomy surgery and was telling my husband that the most similar I've ever felt to this before was decades ago when I was postpartum. I'm in about enough pain to take Tylenol a couple of times a day. Weird noises escape from both ends. I don't feel sick or injured, but I do feel fatigued and my cognition feels slowed. There's a hormone storm occurring that is tangible. And then there's this empty space in my body where something used to be. The void isn't upsetting, it's just- noticeable. -
March 2024 Surgery Buddies!
Aunty Mamo replied to Pines's topic in PRE-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
Me too Lostmom. I was in surgery on the 13th. Your team has you on clear liquids longer than mine did. I was clear liquids the day before through the two days after surgery, so I moved on to full liquids yesterday (Saturday). And I agree about the pain. It's almost non-existent for me aside from the gas (which is also getting better). I do crave real food when I'm hungry but as soon as I'm full from my 4 oz. of protein shake, those cravings subside. Keep us updated on how things are going. I like the idea of a, "surgery twin". -
Nothing Could Have Prepared Me...
Aunty Mamo posted a topic in POST-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
I'm two days post-op and got home from the hospital yesterday around 1:00 pm. I feel pretty good. I don't require anything beyond Tylenol at this point for pain and I bought a s/f liquid version of it so I could dump my crushed daily medications into it. Anyway- this is about gas. Everybody said, "gas pain, gas pain, gas pain", so I expected something, but this? This is beyond. I never imagined gas could make me feel as though something was really going wrong. I'm not looking for advice. I have all the tools I need to deal...just wanted to commiserate. -
Did you have a gastric sleeve leak and if so what caused it ???
Aunty Mamo replied to KII's topic in Gastric Sleeve Surgery Forums
The statistics say that 1% of VSG patients experience a leak and that they usually occur because solid food was consumed too early, or from physical trauma/injury to the area. With that said, I know the anxiety youʻre talking about. I only have this knowledge because I deep dive into things Iʻm afraid of. -
March 2024 Surgery Buddies!
Aunty Mamo replied to Pines's topic in PRE-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
My operating room is booked for 3/13 at 6:30 am for my sleeve gastrectomy. After a lot of thought and consideration over the course of a year, my first consultation to operation day was slightly less than two months. Such a whirlwind of activity!
