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Omg these past few weeks have been driving me nuts!!!. I don't want to eat. Things I'm supposed to eat I can't cuz it makes me.sick and I hate the taste. I'm lucky to eat once a day and hold it down. I miss dr pepper and sweet tea. I want bread and I didn't even like bread that much before surgery! I wanna cry. Seriously. I had my sugary may 18th and I'm down 40 lbs. I'm so thankful for the sugery, but hate not feeling "normal"

I was banded on 7/1 - I just started real food a week ago - past 2 days I've had heartburn all day and constant belching - any ideas ion what's up?:confused:

Rule #1...... If there's any problems between your neck and your knees, call your doctor. Sounds like you're on the road to recovery and that's great. You should start feeling better every day and in about a week you'll be back to your NEW self. Keep up the good work and remember that you always have people here that have been through it too.

Okay I've been on the soft foods stage (soft enough to cut through with a fork) for 2 weeks now and all I can tolerate is 3-5 small bites. Is this normal? Should I be tolerating more? I'm not even hungry, I'm eating to start getting used to eating "real food".

I was just banded on 1/25/2008 so i am a little further out. I can say that shoulder pain for me started . . . and was really really bad one week out. It felt like I had pulled something. Even if I wasnt moving the pain could sometimes be terrible. It was always the worst after eating of if I had a lot of gas. It took about two weeks to get back to normal. Tylenol did not help it but hot baths (not submerging my stomach of course because of the healing incisions) and my husband's massage helped a lot. I read that it was normal to have a little shoulder pain after surgery, but I never knew it could go weeks out. I talked to the doctor and she said that it was normal to have some pain in the shoulder (usually left) but that if it continued I should be seen. I think we are all different in how much it affects us, but the shoulder pain in general is very common. Thank goodness I am feeling better now.

I WAS BANDED ON 2/19/08 AND I HAD TO BE A CLEAR LIQUID 24 hours and full liquied 1 week now I can start with mushies. IT IS SO WIERD HOW ALL OF OUR DR'S HAVE DIFFERENT DIET RULES. WOW, SOME PEOPLE HAVE TO BE ON LIQUIDS FOR WEEKS!!! ANY HOW, I HAVE NOTICED IF I JUST GO A TAD OVER MY 2 OZ'S AT A TIME I WILL GET A PAIN IN MY SHOULDER. IS THIS LIKE A WARNING SIGN THAT WE WILL ALWAYS HAVE OR IS IT JUST POST OP??

I am 4 weeks out and am still bloated-but I think the more water you get in-the less bloated you are- so continue to drink as much water as possible- I know that is my problem-not enough water...

I had the sleeve gastrectomy on Dec 7th. I was on the pre op diet for 2 days before surgery (depending on the doctor) and on the clear liquids for 2 weeks. I just got changed to the full liquids. I feel great about the surgery and was only in the hospital for 3 days. There has been some pain, but it is normal and tolerable. I hurt only when I try to get up and bend over. I have lost 18 pounds so far and have been following what I need to do. I am a little tired of the liquid diet though. I am not craving any food and am not hungry at all. I can't wait to move to stage 3 and try soft foods. I don't regret having this surgery and am looking forward to a happy, healthy life. I hope this helps and good luck to whatever decision you make.

Anyone have this problem before? I was fine until I sneezed this morning & I'm 5-6 weeks out from surgery. Not a sharp pain, just a dull ache. Hoping I didn't damage my sleeve!!! So much to do today & a little worried.

My doc said I could have coffee (not decaff), started at about 6 weeks and usually have at least a cup or two a week.

Hi there and welcome, we are glad to have you join us. In answer to your question, yes, what you are feeling is normal. In the first week or two immediately following surgery, you are not very hungry because of the swelling. However, once the swelling goes down, you definitely get hungrier. That is because the time right now is for healing, not losing. The band is designed to work with fills. Once you start getting your fills, you will find your hunger will start to dissipate and the weight will start coming off. Prior to getting your fills, it is not unusual to not lose any weight and even gain.

I'm still on mushies and 20 days post-op. I've been eating soup with a little more substance, added a cracker yesterday, cottage cheese, yogurt, fudgecycles, pudding, soft boiled egg smashed up with a little mayo & mustard is really good. I tried tuna salad today with mayo and mixed it really good. YUM I was told to gradually add things to my diet. By the end of 3 weeks the Dr. wants me to have tried bread and meat. I did "cheat" Friday. I had three french fries from McDonalds, but in my defense, I smashed them with a fork first and mixed them with ketchup! I keep telling myself this is the time to heal. If my head hunger gets too bad I go grab a SF popcycle and that can usually distract me. Good luck

Its a diet that the docs have you go on, anywhere from two weeks to three days before surgery, they usually tell you about it, but do be afraid to ask. My docs requirement was a two week liquid diet and lose 10 lbs before my surgery date.

I get real sick from I get real allergic miralax

I was home, mostly in bed, for two weeks. My fatigue lasted even once I was back at work for a month or so. I would come home from work and nap. The taste thing my nutritionist told me about--side effect of ketosis. Rapid weight loss puts you into ketosis... (Google it for all the chemistry) When you burn fat, most of the ketones are excreted through your urine, but others are exhaled when you breathe. It gives you bad breath, and leaves residue in your mouth that can give a bad taste. People often say "things taste different after surgery". Think about it as an incentive not to eat things you shouldn't. I definitely can tell when I'm losing weight--everything tastes yuck to me.

Well, it is almost a week (3-6-15) after my surgery, and I am so tired all the time. I just want to sleep, but I know that is not good for me. I went on youtube and looked up one week post op gastric sleeve, and saw all these women in makeup, and hair done !!?? What is going on with that? I still look/feel like crap!!I know I need to start adding more Protein to my stuff too. Getting pretty sick of lemonade MIO. I did have some broth yesterday, which i got full right away. I am starting my second phase today, hopefully that might help, different textures and stuff. Another thing that is bothering me is HICCUPS and belching. I never had this problem before. and now those stupid hiccups actually hurt.... Another thing is that nothing sounds good....i put something against my mouth, and now my mouth has some weird aftertaste....Happen to any one??? Going to make me a Protein shake today, we shall see, oh yeah and that protein supplement Isopure, stinks. UGH UGH Ugh

My doc says no caffeine ever pre-op/post-op. The # 1 reason I have been given is that it can contribute to ulcers. Other reasons I have been given is that it functions as a diuretic and after WLS it is very important to stay hydrated. I have also been told that caffiene can stimulate the appetite. I was a heavy coffee drinker -- 1st cup at 5:30 am and drank straight through unil about 3:00 pm daily. Probably had about 10 cups a day on most days. I started to wean myself off by setting a # of cups of regular coffee. I allowed myself 3-4 cups a day. I did that for a week or so. Then for a couple of weeks I drank 1/2 caf. Finally, I move to straight decaf. It was rough, that's for sure. I had headaches for about the 1st week after I went totally decaf.

I didn't have one pre-op appointment. I had 3 visits at my program. They do the team approach. Visit 1 - Nurse weighs, checks vitals, review written H/P (history & physical - the paperwork I filled out, etc...). I then meet with nutritionist. She reviewed food log, makes recommendations for increasing Protein. I receive my handbook that covers the process start to finish, sample foods for pre and post-op life, listing of recommended Vitamins and supplements, listing of recommended protein powders, drinks and shakes. A section on contact list for the program and pre-op testing required so I can check them off as complete them and a section for note taking. I am to bring this handbook to each appointment. I then meet with the Nurse Practitioner. She also reviews the H & P and give prescriptions for the needed testing. Psych stops by and I am given 6 page survey to complete and bring back at next appt. I meet with the surgeon and his resident. He reviews the surgery, what it entails. Pros and cons, and what precautions they will take. Visit 2 - I see all the people above except the surgeon. I see the resident instead. They update what test have completed and what is scheduled. I spend the most time with the nutritionist who reviews my food log. Told to practice eating slow and separating eating from drinking. Hand in psych paperwork, spend and hour with psych. (Psych eval was covered by insurance, I paid $200 for nutrition class) I am informed that insurance may or may not pay (it varies depending on insurance) for psych eval and nutrition class & how much each will cost. Visit 3 - I see all the people I saw on appt 2. Again spend time reviewing food log w/ NUT. After appointment I have a 2 hour nutrition class with other WLS pts. I am given a free Water bottle. I then go to pre-admission testing and get bloodwork done. I am given a duffle bag for my hospital stay. Between visits 2 & 3 I had received my approval letter from insurance and the surgeon's assistant has called and given me my surgery date. Informed hospital will call and give me surgery time a week before surgery. As part of my pre-admission testing I also was required to attend at least one support group meeting. My doctor also felt that I should have an IVC filter as a precaution so as part of my pre-op testing I also had an ultrasound of my legs and meet with the doctor for that. I had my IVC filter put in the day before surgery. I was given a mini garment bag for my clothing since that was same day short procedure. I now have hospital logo weekend luggage complete with a wooden hanger!

Alli: I was banded on 7/7/11 and had plication at the same time. I feel GREAT. I am down 46 pounds and dropping- now, I am only loosing 2-3 pounds per week but I am dropping (lost 16 pounds the first week - too much too fast). I had a longer recovery than tradditional lapband - instead of 2-3 days it was more like 7-9 days but now I feel wonderful. I have had 2 fills - one was 2 cc and the second was 1 cc. Both were done in August. I am eating and not getting too hungry (I do get hungry between lunch and dinner - but that is just me). I have not had any slimming or anything getting stuck..in fact I really don't feel anything or any different than I did 6 months ago, just smaller (and happy about that). The doctor I used is in Jacksonville, Florida and he is one of only a few who do lapband with plication - in fact, I was in his "study group" so they are following me a bit closer so he can complete the study. GOod luck with your decision. I am glad I chose both and have never looked back. Here's to a skinner you ! Melinda

Kind of a long story - Six years ago I was in a car wreck that totalled my car. I severely damaged the ligaments in my right ankle - all three that attach the foot to the ankle. I am left with an ankle that rolls over on me with the slightest provocation. For the past six years I have slowly been adapting my life to dealing with my ankle. I gave up wearing any shoes except tennis shoes with my custom orthotics. Even flat womens shoes make my ankle ache by the end of the day. I normally wear some kind of ankle brace every day - depending on what I am planning on doing. I have about every kind on the market. Driving any distance makes it ache (I commute two hours each way to work). I have sprained my ankle at least once a year (sometimes more) since the original injury and it takes a month or two to get back to my "normal". I have a low level of pain all the time. Imagine a radio playing static at a low volume in the background 24 hours a day. I can mentally block the pain, but it is always there. Over the years, I have done less and less physical things that might cause me to sprain my ankle. While I was morbidly obese, I had a fear I would sprain my ankle and do major damage (broken bones, etc) to other parts of my body when I did it. So seven months ago I was sleeved. I am approaching my goal and feeling great. Two months ago I sprained my ankle, stepping off of a step while cleaning a closet getting rid of "fat" clothes. No more Zumba (I always wore a brace and was REALLY careful there). One month in a boot cast, one month is a stabilizer and now I am in physical therapy. The good news, I have strong ankle muscles that compensate somewhat for the shot tendons. The bad news? I have NO STABILITY in the muscles. I can not stand on my right foot with the left foot off the ground and stay balanced. Without strength and stability I am doomed to repeating the same situation that I have been. Now that I am a normal weight, I could have a harvest graft tendon surgery to rebuild my tendons in the ankle.(There really was no point in going down this path before.) Have a great surgeon who has been taking care of my foot and ankle for 20+ years that has successful history with the surgery. The downside is, the surgery is not easy. It is three months not putting any weight on the foot. That means crutches or one of those rolling gadgets, no driving, and working remotely after the initial recovery. Then three months in a boot cast, then a long bout of physical therapy. After a year, you are as recovered as you will be. I know at some point, I will likely have to have this surgery. There are insurance reasons that are encouraging me to have it this year or next at the latest. (in 2013, I will have a $10,000 deductible) My questions are, has anyone on this site had their ankle tendons rebuilt? Any good news on functionality afterwards? Also, I want to have a tummy tuck. What about having it while recovering from ankle surgery (or under the same anasthesia - the same day) and doing both recoveries at the same time? I'm looking for opinions here - I welcome comments.

I felt exhausted till about two weeks ago and now am three post post. Take care of yourself, walk, rest and drink lots of water! It will pass-you are not alone!

Ok....looking for hints. I am taking Celebrate Bariatric Vitamins. I am trying to get them all in but it's 13 pills a day and I am trying to find the right order to keep me from vomiting. It seems to be the Calcium I think that is making it horrible. They have a very "cleanser" type of smell that goes along with them. Any of you out there have any types/tips you would like to share on Vitamin taking? Because I know all surgeons can be different, my surgeon has me taking B12 three times weekly Vitamin D daily B complex with thiamine daily Calcium with D three times daily (thats 6 pills a day) Mulitvitamin (3 pills a day) the last is just my omeprazole which i may or may not keep taking--will find out friday. thanks

I went on a trip for a week and got a little off track with my eating habits. I tried diet soda for the first time and have had about 4 since then. Of course I didn't each much, but all of the choices weren't the healthiest. When I got back on monday my weight was fine but now about 1 week after I have gained 4lbs. My weight has fluctuated for about 3 days from 245-241 (different everyday). So with that being said, either I'm pregnant or it's the trip catching up with me, either way it's BAD!! I'm really hoping that it's the bad eating though :-/

@@jayhawk1965 8 months out Life lines: Local support groups, My doctors and bariatric pal Calories: about 1000 to 1300 Exercise: Five to six days a week an hour of cardio. 3 days a week an hour of strength training Challenges: Trying to settle into the reality that this is my life now. Eating and exercise still are the same for me after goal. Responses to weight loss: Mostly positive and supportive. Opposite sex treat you Very differently. (still strange) Some people are having issues with my weight loss. They are just not comfortable with it. Tips. Stay connected with you're support systems. No secrets do what you're doctors instruct you to do