ILKrista

I was sleeved 3 weeks ago, and I told everyone that I was doing it. My family, friends, coworkers, landlord, etc. I figured it would be best to just get it out there and then I wouldn't have to explain to people why I was losing weight, eating weird, etc. If people asked, I told them. However, I'm kind of starting to regret it. My landlord called to check up on me a couple days ago and said, "So, I bet you look really different by now. You've probably lost a ton of weight already." I told him, that no, since it had only been two and half weeks since surgery, you really couldn't notice a difference yet. I've also noticed people at work trying to check me out on the sly. Someone else said that it would be great that I could wear a bikini this summer. Seriously... do they think I swallowed a magic bean or something? How can people seriously think you are going to look dramatically different after only 2 and a half weeks? Or, for that matter that I'm going to lose the 140 pound I need to by this summer. I'm starting to think I should have just kept my mouth shut. I'm also starting to think that most people really are idiots. Maybe I'm just crabby. Krista

I just wonder if your grandmother would have the same reaction to someone having lung cancer removed? After all, it's not fair to all the people who did the 'right thing' and never smoked. Or what about someone having a bypass... aren't they cheating because it's their fault for eating fatty food? This irks me because I've had people tell me that I'm taking the easy way out and should just try harder.

When you get to the blended food stage, have some refried bead with salsa. I accidentally bought that instead of regular refried beans, and it was pretty good... just spicy enough for me to forget that everything I was eating was still the consistency of baby food.

Baby girl.... they are called haters ;-( Unfortunately they are our friends and you think they would be happy for us, but they are not. They are jealous instead. You can either say something to them or let it roll off your back. I second the haters comment. I've been really surprised at how insensitive some of my 'friends' have been. The friend who drove me to the hospital keeps reminding me that I'm going to end up with 'big, saggy boobs' if I lose too much weight. When someone complemented me on my weightloss, she said, "As your friend, I have to be honest... It doesn't look like you've lost any weight yet." Thanks a lot! I say just ignore them and the comments. It is pure jealousy.

Well, I am only one month out of surgery, but i have found that I will have a hot flash if I haven't eaten enough that day. One second I'm fine, then next I feel sweaty and like I need to sit down. Eating something seems to cure it. I've also recently upped my daily calorie intake because I was only getting about 400 calories a day. Since I'm eating more, I feel much better and haven't had the hot flashes.

My doctor told me that this surgery was successful with about 80% of the people... that means that 20% either dont' lose the weight or don't maintain weightloss. I think most of the people who are on here are still really working on the weightloss and the 20% who it didn't work for are not. Just a thought.

God will your stomach let you know if you are eating too fast or didn't chew enough! I just started soft foods yesterday. I made myself turkey meatballs for dinner today and was so excited that I ate them way too fast. I feel horrible right now. Like I need to burp or throw up or something. Lesson learned... eat slow & chew!

I did the same thing with the binge eating and in the course of 3 months I gained 20 pounds. I had it in my head that I was going to eat as much of the bad food because I knew I wouldn't be able to later. Then I saw the surgeon and he basically told me that if I didn't my some serious changes and show major improvement, I wouldn't be having this surgery. That forced me to get back on track and, thankfully I lost the 20 pounds and insurance approved me. I'm glad you are back on track. Just remember to remind yourself of all the reasons you must succeed with this surgery. Those bad foods have had a hold over you (and me) for years, or we wouldn't be looking at WLS. You can succeed in breaking that hold! I haven't had fast food in months... I never thought I would be able to say that. Learn from the past, but look to the future. You will succeed!

I had to do nothing but protein shakes for 2 weeks prior to surgery, and I didn't have a problem with them. Then I had to do it for one week post-op and by day 4 I would almost be dry-heaving when I would bring it up to my mouth. Three weeks later I still can't do protein shakes. Do your best to get the protein in and just remember that you only have to tough the shakes out for a little longer. The day I was allowed pureed food was pure heaven!

Research, research, research. When I started I was convinced that Lap-Band was for me. But when I heard about the sleeve I reconsidered. Three things swayed me to the sleeve. The first is that when I look at plastic, I have a really hard time thinking that it is going to last 50 years without degrading... and since I hope to live to 80, that's a problem. Another issue I had with the idea of the Lapband was that it can malfuction 20 years down the road. I wanted something that once I was healed, there weren't going to be possible problems in the future. The final issue was financial. With Lapband, you have to go in for fills and unfills pretty often. At $50 a visit for a copay, that adds up. In the end you have the make the choice that you can be happy with. Good luck!

Thanks for all the support, everyone. As frustrated as I get with the few people with the crazy expectations, for the most part people have been supportive. I just think that some people have no common sense... even if i was losing a pound a day (which I'm not), at three weeks it would still only be 21 lbs... That's not going to make much difference to your appearance when you have over 100 pounds to lose. In the end, I'm glad I just told people because A) a coworker drove me to the hospital and I know she couldn't have kept her mouth shut so everyone would have found out anyway, and the only reason I looked into WLS was because a coworker's husband had it and was very open about it. Hopefully someone else who has been suffering due to their weight will decide to do something about it because I was honest about it. And, hey, if nothing else I now have a great excuse for being supper bitchy... I just remind people that I'm still recovering from surgery and I'm only eating around 600 calories... They can't possibly expect me to be as sweet as I normally would be.

You can do it. The pre-op diet is hard, but well worth it. I would really recommend you go through the carb withdrawl during the preop diet instead of having to deal with that after surgery when you are already dealing with so much. You will feel like utter crap for about 4 days and then you feel fine. I actually feel more alert now that I have cut out the vast majority of the carbs I eat... but first you have to deal with the crappy feeling of getting off them. Best of luck! ILKrista

I slept on the couch with my back propped into a reclining position for 1 week after surgery. I found lying flat was too painful of a position to get out of.

I have the same thing beneath my largest incision. The dr. said it is normal and it was due to the internal stitching and it should eventually go away when all is healed up.

I had a reoccuring nightmare for the entire pre-op diet. I eat an entire pizza and as I'm cramming the last piece into my mouth I suddenly remember that I'm on the pre-op diet and am not supposed to eat any of it. I start panicking thinking I've ruined everything for my surgery... And when I would wake up, sometimes it would take me a minute to realize it was a dream and the surgery was still on.

Well, I packed a suitcase full of things (books, a hot pad, knitting, etc). I ended up using almost none of it. The one item I'm really glad I had with me was my robe, so my tush wasn't hanging out every time I wanted to take a walk. I would agree that chapstick and a hairbrush are good ideas too.

Have you gone to the support group meetings? I'm debating if it is worth the 40 minute drive for me to attend. ILKrista

I just hit the 2 weeks out mark. Like SinDLou, I weighed myself the day after surgery... big mistake! I was up 10 pounds. It did disappear within the next 3 days or so. Like all of you, eating is a chore. I gave up the protein shakes on day 6 because I was gagging every time I'd try to drink one. As gross as it sounds, my favorite thing to eat right now is pureed tuna with fat free mayo and some pickle juice. I would say that I only just started feeling like my old self a few days ago. Just remember, it will get easier!

I actually had to sign a release prior to surgery stating that I was giving up any legal claim to anything they removed during surgery. Guess they didn't want me putting my stomach in a jar over the mantle.

I'm really looking forward to: 1) Dating (without worrying it is a pity date or that he is a chubby chaser who will want to touch the fat ) 2) Traveling without fear of plane seat size or ridicule while abroad 3) Having people make eye contact with me instead of feeling like I am the amazing invisible woman 4) Feeling like I'm 31 and not 81! 5) No longer being the fattest person when I go to a restaurant, exercise class, or any other public place

I found that days 4 & 5 of the liquid preop diet were the hardest (I had to do 14 days of nothing but protein shakes). At one point I even thought the cat food smelled good. But once you get beyond that, you cease to be hungry... at least that was my experience. Good luck!

I have to take a multi w/ iron, vitamin D, B12 complex, & 5 calium citrate wafers. I think most doctors base the vitamins they want you taking on the results of your bloodwork.

You can do it! I think day 4 & 5 were the worst for me as far as cravings, and there was a moment where I really thought I was going to cave and eat something... but I didn't. Today is day 15 for me of just Protein shakes, and surgery is a little over a day away. Your week will fly by! Best of luck. ILKrista

I'm getting sleeved the 23rd, so I know how you feel with the ever increasing nerves! Good luck to you & just keep reminding yourself about all the reasons you are doing this and not the slim chances of problems.