marfar7

Now, I'm all for cruises (planning our 5th one this Nov) but at week 3? I was still feeling like I was hit by a semi. I was still on full liquids (4 weeks) and while u CAN do that on a cruise, it's not very enjoyable. And snorkeling? Not even in my wildest dreams could I have gone snorkeling at 3 weeks (have been, in Mexico in 2011). Now everyone is different. Some people never take more than Tylenol afterwards. I wasn't one of the lucky ones. I LOVED my bottle of liquid Vicodin. For the first 10 days I took it round the clock. I did take a road trip (up the ORegon coast) at 4 weeks, it wasn't an expensive cruise that I'd saved for and anticipated. If it were me, I'd wait till I was eating regular food and could physically do whatever I wanted to do. If that u, then congrats! More power to ya!

I do the same thing. I have a bag of Cadbury Eggs in my nightstand "just in case". Makes me feel better to have them in the house. Did the same thing when I quit smoking 23 yrs ago. Felt better to have some cigs in the house "just in case". Even tho the bag has yet to be opened (and they've been in there since they first came out, before Valentines Day), I KNOW they're there in case I get a hankering...

I also miss my Corona Lite. Now I make do with a glass of wine. I will have a sip of hubbys beer when out to eat and that satisfies me fine. Not sure if carbonation actually stretches ur stomach or not (my dr says it does) but I picture my stomach exploding so that usually keeps me in check... I don't think an occasional beer will hurt u. But I wouldn't make it a regular thing...

The only problem I have with spicy foods is I'm unable to drink Water with it. I luv Mexican and a medium spicy is preferred. Now I suck on an ice cube if I need to. But no stomach pain with it. And I'm 9 mths post op

I had my lapband in 2009, before the sleeve was routinely done. I had never even heard of it and I'm not sure if my Dr even performed it, and it's a Center of Excellence. So thats the reason I had the band instead of the sleeve. I wasn't into the RNY. Hope that answers ur questions...

I eat the crust also. Pizza isn't pizza without the crust (same as a burger isn't a burger without the bun). Doesn't cause me discomfort at all. Fills me up quickly (but then everything does). Haven't found anything that I can't eat. With the lapband, I couldn't eat pizza crust, pancakes or pineapple (my fav fruit): All the P's! Now that I'm sleeved, I enjoy everything in a really, really small amount.

Just curious if u noticed ur ticker vs mine? U started at 245, I at 248. Ur now 151 (so am I) and our goal is both 140. Wow, small world! Good luck to u on that last 11. The first 90 was easy peasy compared with the last 20!

I was a band patient before my revision to the sleeve for 3 1/2 yrs so I got kinda used to the no soda rule a long time ago. I confess that when we go out to eat, my hubby orders a diet Coke and I will have a sip. Maybe one a week I have a sip. This is probly the only rule I don't usually break. I guess I'm a little scared of what could happen. My dr said the bubbles can stretch my tummy. Not sure if thats true but I picture my tummy exploding from the carbonation so that usually keeps me on the straight and narrow. Before wls, I enjoyed a diet soda about 4-5x a week, so not a huge drinker but I like soda with burgers and pizza. Occasionally I miss it but the 1 sip a week is fine with me. About the alcohol: I'm 9 mths out and drink a glass of wine almost everynite. I do miss my Corona Lite but the wine is fine. I calculate the 110 calories into my daily intake. My dr said a limited amt of alcohol (as long as it's not carbonated) is fine after 8 weeks (when I could start a regular diet). Good luck! It's really not that bad!

Robin, just had to share: My hubby calls me Skinny Minny all the time!!!

I ordered the sampler pack from Syntrax (the makers of the Nectars) and also didn't really like the "add water" based nectars. But I LOVED the "milk added" ones. After spending over $200 on Protein drinks (inclduding the barfy Isopure drinks) and not liking any of them following lapband surgery 4 yrs ago, I thought I'd try some different brands and flavors. All I had to try was the Cappucino flavored Syntrax and I was hooked. So yummy. Also ordered Syntrax unflavored Protein powder (which isn't truly "unflavored" which all protein powders are - they are just flavorless, believe it or not there's a big difference) and I tried it first in a glass of iced tea. Yuck. It's much better in a smoothie, applesauce, or pudding tho. U can't really use unflavored powder in coffee or Soup, however. Any heat over, I believe 110 F, denatures the protein making it useless. Amazon sells Syntrax Nectars for $28-$40 (depending on flavor) or u can get a few flavors at the Vitamin Shoppe for a few dollars more. I would get the $15.00 11 pack sampler pack (http://www.bjsbariatrics.com/product/synSamplePack.html) before I spent money on a tub of something u don't like. U can choose the flavors u want. Might I suggest the Cappucino and the Vanilla Torte? My favs Good luck!

I woke up with a catheter (thank God I didn't have to get up to pee every 20 mins the 1st 24 hrs), a JP drain, an IV and O2. I think it was the 1st surgery I'd had that I wasn't nauseous right afterwards. Not till the next day when I had to drink the barium for my leak test. They took out my catheter after 24 hrs - then I got up to pee every 15-20 mins, literally. Took out my IV after about 36 hrs when I was able to drink enuf to make the nurse happy. My JP drain came out about 5 mins before discharge, 48 hrs after surgery. I was in a moderate amt of pain but the nurses were all wonderful and freely giving of the IV Dilaudid. When I got home, however, felt like I was hit by a semi. Have u ever had a general anesthesia surgery before? If not, u may wake up with a sore throat (from the breathing tube they use while under general), in pain (as soon as u ask for something, the recovery room nurses are usually on top of it), and O2 in ur nose. My O2 only last maybe 4-6 hrs. I don't remember much from that first day (got out of recovery about 1 pm but slept most of the day). Know I got out of bed to walk at about 10 pm and didn't sleep a wink that first nite (pain and a very vocal patient in the next room). By the 2nd nite, I slept a little better (plus my dr ordered me my normal sleeping pill that I didn't get the first nite). Good luck and congrats!

5 yrs ago, my back was hurting really badly. Worse than the usual bad back pain. I used the heating pad at lib. On day 4, I couldn't even walk upright. Thought for sure I had a kidney stone. Went to the ER and was diagnosed with shingles. I thought the burning pain on my back was from overuse of the heating pad. It was a huge rash. They gave me antivirals (which were close to $400, btw) and Vicodin. It was a good weeks before I could walk upright and a good month before I was good as new. I'm 46, 41 at the time and I now get the shingles vaccine. Never heard of the age requirement. Good luck to u. Btw, did u get a diagnosis? I didn't read all the comments so not sure if u updated or not?

I think I'm obsessed with the scale. I weigh everyday. That just started when I got my lapband to sleeve revision. Before that, I weighed like a normal person, once a week. Not sure why I'm not patient enuf to wait for that once a week weigh in. During my biggest losing period, I was satisfied with weekly weigh ins. Now I think I weigh everyday to catch even a 1 lb gain. I don't want it to snow ball on me with a 5 lbs gain. Good luck!

I'm 9 mtths out and still feel like I have a port. Still a knot there (not quite as big but there's scar tissue there) and still aches from time to time. Not sure if the scar tissue hurts or I'm having "phantom port pain" Yesterday it was very itchy. Guess Id better get used to it

We go to RR about 3x z month. Hubby always orders the same thing: a Royal Red Robin (burger with an egg and bacon), lettuc wrapped with a side salad. Also an fyi: tneir side salad is also bottomless. U can eat as much as u want, just like their fries. Hubby is a carb watcher and always orders his burgers "Protein style" Carls Jr and In and Out also do a fabulous "protein style" buger/sandwich. Places like Burger King put the burger and veggies in a bowl and give u a fork. Not a true burger, in my opinion. Personally I'm not a fan of lettuce wrapped burgers. A burger isn't a burger without the bun. But I know a lot of people like having the option. Btw, I always get the Avo Cobbo salad at RR. Usually I end up tossing the leftovers after my 4th meal of it cuz I'm sick of it. I always get the dressing on the side so my leftovers aren't so soggy

I've been at the exact same weight for 5 mths (153), never varying. No matter my logging, working out, no matter what - it never changed. Finally I'm down 2 lbs! I guess it's a start. Also redid my goal weight from 130 to 140 (making my bmi 23.3, so thats great, in my opinion). Figured it might motivate me more if I have only 13 lbs to lose rather than 23. It worked. Now I only have 11. Goal here I come!!!!

I don't think in over 4 yrs of having wls (the lapband in 2009 and a sleever revision in July 2013) anyone has ever even noticed how little I eat. At least no one has ever mentioned it. They see me getting smaller and watch me box up about 3/4 of my meal but no one has ever said anything. Pretty much everyone I know knows about my surgery anyway. I'm not saying thats the best way - it's just the way I did it. The only time I've been uncomfortable in a restuarant situation is back when I was banded, I vomited alot. Excusing myself to go to the restroom, hoping no one was in there. There's always someone in there when I hafta barf tho. I've heard "Are u ok?" more times than I can count... Other than that, no problems explaining my appetite to friends and family. Even if they do know, it's not like we sit around and talk about it.

LOL. I thought the exact SAME thing. About 15 yrs ago, when I was in the Army, I was doing some research on Boys Town (The place for problem teens) for hubby and I to work there when I got out. When I google "Boys Town" up pops a myriad of porn sites. And then my Captain walks in. I couldn't delete fast enuf. Who knew anything with the term "Boys" in it would give me some much porn. Maybe the same with the term "Chat"? It's just funny how we both thought the same thing...If this isn't the case, I'm wondering what the poster was also talking about??

Ok, if ur able to eat refried Beans and eggs u must be on a soft diet, correct? I believe that deli cut lunchmeat is on a soft diet, at least it was on my list. I was on liquids for 4 long weeks. Soft diet was like steak and lobster for me. And refried beans were my 1st meal. When i could eat refried beans, I was also allowed to eat most cheeses and thinly cut lunchmeat (and canned meats/fish too). I would double check ur diet list. Maybe u didn't "cheat". If ur correct then I wouldn't worry about it too much. As others have said, it's not like u ate a burger and fries. Everyone makes mistakes. Ull make ur fair share of them before too long... Good luck!

I'm 9 mths out and I still overeat occasionally. Wish it were that easy to vomit as it used to be when I was lapbanded. It's a drawn out, painful process that doesn't give much results so I don't really advise it. My problem is that I eat way too fast, making it take longer for my tummy to register itself as full, making me eat too much. Don't get me wrong. By "too much" I mean 12 bites instead of 10, or 3 oz instead of 2. Still not much but enuf to cause pain. Ur only 6 weeks out. Still a baby. still learning what ur sleeve tolerates and what it doesn't. How much it can take - and how much it can't. It may take a while. We all wouldn't be here if we didn't have food issues in the first place. Army basic training taught me to eat way too fast. If u didn't eat in 5 mins, u didn't eat. Never relearned eating slowly till being sleeved (after 3 1/2 yrs of eating fast with my band and frequent vomiting). Ull be fine. I wouldn't push even the liquids tonite, as long as ur feeling nauseous. It may just make it inevitable to actually throw up. And while I don't think u can damage a 6 week old sleeve by vomiting (not like the lapband), it's not advisable to vomit. Good luck to u.

I started feeling hungry on day 10 post op. None of that enjoyment of the Ghrelin removal for me. It's now been 9 mths and I can eat slower now, making me eat less. For 3 1/2 yrs post op lapband, I couldn't ever figure out how to slow down my eating, making me eat too much and then frequently vomit. Now that vomiting isn't so easy to be had (I used to bend over and up would come whatever I just ate. Now it's a long drawn out process and hardly produces results. So to not result in constant pain, I've had to learn how to slow down, making me automatically eat less. The stomach and the brain don't immediately connect when ur full. Sometimes it takes up to 20 minutes, making u automatcially overeat if u eat too fast. I know how ur feeling tho. U should most likely be on a tleast a soft diet by now which is much more satiating than the liquid diet. But it's still not as filling as a regular diet. Wait till u start eating firm Proteins, that will help u eat small amounts and stay fuller longer. I'm hungrier more often now than I was pre op. But I only eat a very small amt before getting full, making me hungry again in 2 hrs. So I always keep a baggy of almonds in my purse in case I'm desperate. We tend to make poor choices when we're starving. Good luck to u!

Christmas of 2010 - I was at my future in laws meeting the family for the first time. I had lost about 75 lbs at this point (was banded before my sleeve revision). I had on my fav wool skirt, folded over cuz it was a 14 and I refused to acknowledge that I was smaller than a 14. While standing in the middle of the living room, amongst about 10 of my future in laws talking among themselves. BF (at the time, he's now my husband) commented to me that I needed to pull up my skirt. It was on the floor. I was aghast. Not 1 person noticed, they were all still deeply in conversation. I retired that skirt and found 1 exactly the same except in a 10. Now thats also gone by the wayside. Luv it when I pick out jeans and I KNOW they're way to small to ever fit me. But they do. It's amazing. Welcome to the land of NSV's. Hope u enjoy the ride...congrats!

Luv the Cadbury Mini Eggs. They r like crack. However, like u, I could devour a whole bag in 1 sitting pre surgery (2009 I got the lapband. Last July I revised to the sleeve). Even just last year (banded but had all my fill removed for a slip) I could eat about 1/3 of a bag in 1 sitting. I also bought a bag when I first saw them (those and a bag of Starburst Fav Reds Jellybeans). I just opened the bag of jellybeans a few days ago (where I ate about 6 of em) and I still have about 2/3 of the bag of Cadbury eggs in my nightstand (where I stash my nightime snacks). And it's been since before Valentines Day. Thank God for the portion control that the sleeve gives me. I feel so in control when I open the bag of chocolates and can stop at 5 of em. Now I enjoy them much more than when I swallowed them without even tasting them. So I'm in ur corner when it comes to the "Easter crack"!!! Luv em 2!!!

Sorbitol (whats in most sf candies, Atkins bars and alot of sf items) tears up my tummy. I'll spend a few hours with stomach cramps/diarrhea. Not worth it to me. Thank God my sleeve allows me to eat just 1 of anything. My husband is amazed when I can stop at 1 bite of ice cream, 1 cookie, 1 of anything. So I'd probly eat 1 of the REAL ones and call it a day. Not saying thats for everyone, cuz obviously it's not. Some people can't eat something or it'll get em started. If thats u, I suggest u run and run fast...

Exactly. I don't treat ANYTHING as a "cheat". It's why I had wls in the first place - so I'd never have to "cheat" on a "diet" ever again. I occasionally will eat 1/4 of a homemade Boboli crust pizza (with italian cheese, olives, and mushrooms - my fav toppings). I like homemade much better than store or restuarant pizza and if I'm going to eat something - I make sure I LOVE it. I can only eat 1/4 of it, somedays not even that much. So 1 pizza makes 4 meals. If more people told the truth, I'm sure you'd see a bunch more people eating pizza on here. Pizza is part of life (as is Pasta, bread, and rice) and I eat small portions on everything. I'm now only less than 10 lbs from goal so something must be working...