foxgirl74

It gets easier every day to get both in, so I am thankful for that!! Thanks for the comment, and for reading my rant!

Thanks for the replies guys! And you are both 100% right! It's just a head thing, and being back to "normal" life in every other aspect makes the surgery seem like a surreal experience. In order to qualify for insurance I actually had to gain some weight, so that messed with my head some as I was not keeping track and gained 60 pounds in less then 6 months. As for my intake, I have been drinking these Premier Protein shakes from Costco. They literally have 30 grams of isolate protein per shake, and only 160 calories. 5 carbs I think. I drink two of those a day as directed by my surgeon. Often I only have that for the day and that reaches my protein goal and has me at only 320 calories. My surgeon said I could have a third "meal", and to have a small piece of cheese or something similar with protein, low carb. At only fitting 2 - 3 oz at a time I only get about 80 calories from this "meal". So, I am getting about 60 - 65 grams of protein, and only 400-450 calories a day on the days with the extra meal. But I think I need to play with that a bit and increase them. I just get paranoid thinking I will somehow gain weight on 600 or 800 calories. I would have killed to stay at that range pre-surgery!! It just is hard to think of myself as being a slow loser. I was not before when I would lose weight, but I just couldn't keep it off. So I guess if that is what it takes to keep it off, then so be it! Once again, thanks for the feedback and input, this is hard, but we all go through these stalls, and I am officially packing up the scale and only going to weigh once a month. AND, I am going to take my measurements and check those once a month.

OMG! I got approved!!! I am still in shock. I just found out today, the 16th of Feb 2011, and have a surgey date of March 16th, 2011. Can you freaking believe it?!?! I know, me either!!! I am so......stunned. I really did not think this would happen. I thought for sure I would get denied for lack of overweight history of a high enough BMI, Oh.....my....God. I am so happy. I feel like I can finally breath again. Like it's ok to exhale because things are going to be ok, things will work out, and life will move in the right direction. I highly doubt that person giving the approval has no idea what an impact this is for me. I feel like tracking them down and hugging the hell outta them. I just...wow, this is really happening. It is going to happen. I still can't soak it all in. Just gotta call the hospital and arrange pre-op testings, chest x-ray, EKG, and lab work. Few meetings, two week diet....wow, and it's gonna be me doing it! Not just reading about someone else going through it. That feeling is truely fantastic.

As the title explains, I am married to the chip guy. My husband works for Frito-Lay. No big deal, right? Normally no. Any given day prior to having surgery I could care less about the stacks of boxes of Frito-Lay products in our living room that we hand out to friends and family. I got over chips a long time ago, shortly after he started working for the company because they were always around. But I have one weakness. I love me some freaking Cheetos! Even those I got over, but now as I allow my son and daughter to split one of the small bags I find my head back in my old habit of wanting to eat about 10 mini bags of Cheetos. I'm over it, physically anyway. I restrain obviously because I know I have too, but damn does my head and my taste buds want them. It is mainly the smells that get me, make my mouth water and mess with my head. I am finding this with a lot of the food in my house that my husband and children eat. So, I figure it's just as good of time as any to really phase out all the junk and get them to eat, and hopefully crave, healthy food too. I know I have seen a topic online here somewhere about Camelbaks, or hydration packs. Let me just tell you if you do not have one or worry about them for air intake or whatever reason, don't! Get one!! I love mine. I have been able to sip water from mine all day long and get in so much more fluid because it goes everywhere with me, so I have no excuse. It's a constant reminder to drink the fluids!! And I am only 12 days out and have no issue with the amount of water per sip, nor any air issues. The same goes for gum. I am a huge gum chewer and I decided to brave it, and no issues whatsoever! I know everyone is different so please be careful should you try either, but I am a huge advocate for both and suggest you at least give it a try!! My Camelbak holds 48oz of water and it's my personal goal to finish my entire pack in one day. Plus I have other fluids, like Crystal Light that I drink to get me to my 64oz. Protein is still kind of hard for me. I just use the Professional Strength Whey Protein from Walmart. It's like 17 bucks for a big container and I double my scoops so I get in 52 grams in the morning and try to get in additional 26 at night. I still need to take my measurements but I am dreading it. I know in a month when I measure again I will be glad, but for now I am kind of mad that I am fat. I know that sounds weird, and it's not like I expected to be skinny two weeks after surgery, but this is a mad I have been for years. Two hours of an operation on my stomach is not going to instantly take away the anger and bitterness I have over being fat. It's a process, I know, but one I am ready to be done with. Guess it's never really done. Gonna have to work on wrapping my head around that. Until then, just gonna take it one day at a time! What else can I do!? Anyway, good luck to all you sleevers out there and to those in the process keep fighting for it, it will be worth it!!

You are not alone! I have been hungry since about a week out from surgery, and it's the smells from making food for my kids and husband that get me the worst! But we knew this would happen, and it's not much different from a regular diet. It's about making the choice to say no and lose weight. Lucky for us, even if you decided to eat you would fit very, very little in your new little tummy. Not that you should, but that is the point of this surgery. Once you move to mushie stages it should help with the hunger issues. Try to stick with protein mushies. The shakes don't help with my hunger much either, but a piece of cheese, a little bit of egg, or some canned chicken with light mayo has helped me a lot with hunger. It will get better!!

I am two weeks out and use a straw all the time, better yet, I have a Camelbak and LOVE IT! And I have personally not had issues with either one. I would try it, wait a little bit and if you have no issues go for it! If it helps get in the liquids I don't think it's going to be that big of deal.

It's bitter sweet eh?!?! lol Thanks, and good luck to you! I see yours is just days away! How exciting!!!

Congrats!!! Now to the rest of your journey! How cool that your doctor took a picture of your removed stomach. I got some pics of my insides while he was doing the procedure, but would have loved to seen my stomach part that was cut out! Here's to your speedy recovery!

Sounds to me like you are doing everything exactly like you should be! The water and protein is so vital and you seem to be doing great on both, and having that low carb intake is key. It will depend on the surgeon, but mine considers the protein in the protein drinks just the same as with food. I think you have done awesome losing 20 pounds in a month and if it slows down a little that is not such a bad thing. Only weigh once a week, and make sure you take your measurements! That will help show even when pounds are not dropping inches usually are! I try to think of weight loss this way, it works from the inside out. First our bodies need to burn the fat that is suffocating our lungs, kidneys and other essential organs, then it can focus on burning some of the outer fat. Plus, we do not just lose fat, we do lose some muscle mass. I think you'll notice more improvement with the light resistance training and once cleared by your doctor try and increase some of the muscle building and toning work outs. I wish you the best!! It will work, we have come this far, we just gotta be patient and let this process work itself out through our body like it should!

I have the SAME feeling just about every time I drink. I found warm fluid seems to go a little easier for some reason. It's so hard for me because I LOVE water and love to gulp it and now I simply can't! I think it will get easier, but maybe you should try warm water or tea and see if it helps. And take tiny sips, like a tablespoon at a time and wait 5 - 10 min then do it again. Who knew this would be so time consuming?!?!

I ran a 99 for a few days after surgery. I was told this is normal as antibodies are released to help heal all the incision sites and that unless my temp got to 101 or above there was no concern unless I had other accompanying issues. Best bet always is to call the surgeon and ask what he or she would like you to do.

Don't worry, EVERYONE has a hard time getting fluids down the first few days!! And it gets easier everyday to get the liquids in so you'll be fine I'm sure. Congrats on the new sleeve!! I had a day of remorse too, but there's no going back even if we wanted But trust me, in time it will be the last thing we will ever regret!!

My insurance covered my surgery, but they actually required a letter from my PCP recommending my surgery and notifying them of her support. So, it will just depend on the insurance if you are using that, and if not it's probably just up to you, but it does sound like you might as well have them in the know. For nothing else like others have said, you can probably avoid duplicate blood work!!

Something like this is entirely a case by case type of thing. For many people the best option is to simply tell your family you are having your gall bladder removed and going on a high protein diet to prevent the chance of kidney stones. Then, once you have lost the weight and feel better about coming clean you can explain what really happened and why you felt you needed to be covert for a while. Your family of all people should want you to be happy and healthy, but it's in your hands to do what needs to be done to get that way. You will still need to get on a treadmill after this surgery, and by all means I hope you don't think this is easier then a diet. It's just a forced diet that gives your chance of success far higher numbers. Good luck in whatever you decide!!

Hi Sleevers! I have noticed so many comments from a lot of you saying you get full after just a bite or a few when eating and how you love how your sleeve makes you full after just so little. So, my question is, does your full feeling also make you feel satisfied after just a few bites?? This worries me a little because I used to have to get very full to feel satisfied after eating and even all these posts that mention fullness I realize do not equate to satisfaction. I also understand that satisfaction may be something we might have to learn to live without, but I would just like to know what that's been like for a few of you experienced sleevers! Thanks so much!!

Thanks for the replies guys! I am just a little worried because I simply do love the taste of food! I love even healthy foods! And I am going to have to train my brain to be satisfied after a very little amount of food. I need my stomach to tell my brain to tell my taste buds I had enough! I think over time I will get it down. I am hoping that as time goes on I can become less interested in food like so many others have.

I got a little, but only cause I took one of my sleeping pills. But with only 5 hours to go be careful taking something or you might be way drowsy when you wake up! You could try just one tylonel p.m. if you have one available.

So, here i am the morning after surgery. It's early, only 1am, but I am having a bit of a hard time sleeping. I doze for a while, but it's hard to get good rest. And I can't even blame the nurses, they are great and really don't bug me, but this guy across the hall has been moaning and yelling for "someone, come on!" for hours now. He was so mad they wouldn't let him go to the bathroom, even though they told him over 10 times he has a catheter!! I have been doing really good, just some soreness, but sipping my ice chips, walking, peeing, breathing into my little spirometer, wearing my foot cuffs and and my oxygen. I do not have to push my PCA for morphine near as often as I thought I would need to. I have the ability every 6 minutes, but I would honestly say I only need it and push it about every 30 minutes. But I can feel some more soreness creeping up and itching glued suture sites. I am all alone since my husband has to work today and we live in another city other then my surgery, but I don't really mind. I did have an OMG moment about an hour post recovery room with my husband, asking him why the hell I just cut out 85% of my stomach. But I laughed it off because I know exactly what I did, why I did, and that there is no going back, but that's ok cause I don't wanna go back anyway. It was just surreal it had actually just happened though. It all went fast after my one and only seminar meeting on Jan 5th, 2011, but I have been wanting this for years so it just kind of hit me in a good way that I had actually succeeded in this goal and journey. Now, I know the journey has just begun, but know I feel I have every tool I need to make. So, that being said, I cannot be more grateful for such an online community like this and all the support. I hope one day I can help support other's who are facing this challenge. That's all before I start slurring my typing, and making even less sense then I normally do. It's almost 2am and I have my leak test around 8 or 9, so time to grab some needed shut eye. Congrats to all you March 16th sleevers today! I am excited for us!! Oh, btw, I lost 12 pounds on my pre-op diet, and Doctor said my liver and all looked great! So all that worry for nothing!! But encouragement to any on there pre-op, stick to it!! You'll feel better that you did, results WILL occur and your surgeon will be happy!