letter to a newbie.....

[pottergirl 261]

I see so many questions on this forum and remember all the questions I had pre op and especially post op...so I thought I would try too compile some information in one spot....here's hoping it helps someone and someone finds it useful....

1. Don't freak out when you can barely sip anything immediately after surgery.....I could barely drink a little medicine cup in the hospital...some can drink more....I just couldn't.....I can hardly remember the feeling in my stomach but I struggled and struggled, in fact I stayed an extra night in the hospital due to this and continues to struggle when I went home. It got better day by day...for me milk was easier.

2. On the same subject of drinking...water hits the stomach a bit hard in the beginning due to its density as my nutritionist explained to me....if you mix it with g2 or crystal light you will feel a difference. At about 3 months I started plain Water and now at more than 6 months post op it's no problem at all.

3. I don't feel very full on pureed foods..what's up? Wait till you get to semi solid or pure protein.....it's so different...even at 6 months out I feel incredible restriction when I eat a Boca burger.

4. Don't freak out when you come home from the hospital and all you do is feel sad, melancholy and cry yourself through the morning...for a couple of weeks I was mourning food. I missed my food friend pizza and chips, my love Pasta and I broke up and I didn't think I could live without any of them....I stopped crying at....probably 2 weeks....once I transition to pureed and ate the famous ricotta bake. Somehow I began feeling somewhat like my old self..

5. I am still kind of in 4. Will I ever be able to eat a piece of pizza again??????

Yes...of course you can...eventually you can..I could eat a slice and probably be very satisfied but now I don't want to....I find myself making healthier choices but I did make that cauliflower crust pizza and it was pretty good. I ate one small slice. It wasn't exactly like a traditional piece of pizza...but it was good! And I knew it was healthy.

6 . O.mg..I left the hospital weighing more than I did pre op. I figure it's all the fluids they pump used up with..

7. I haven't lost a lb in weeks...what's up with that????? I've been watching the rhythms of my weight loss...and I can clearly see I stay at number for two, three weeks and then I drop 5 or 6 lbs in a few days. It cycles this way and I don't freak anymore.

Feel free to add folks....

[SuzyB 182]

I am still pre op but

8. Your surgeon's plan will vary from every other surgeon plan. You picked your surgeon because hopefully you trust him/her. If you want to go off your surgeon's plan, then at least tell them how you are changing it.

[fancy 41]

Wow IM 3week out from the sleeve and I really needed to hear all what u just said ,I thought I was the only one but IM still crying for no reason at 3weeks so I really hope that change soon ,IM trying hard with the amount of Water I should be drinking but it's hard my Protein IM trying to get from eating fish becuz Protein Shake not agreeing with my new banana ,I use to be a happy outgoing life of the party girl can't get me to stop talking girl but now I barely talk cry and hardly want to get out the bed ,IM weak must of the time never hungry and I really don't know my body at all right now ,IM really hoping things will change soon ,IM feeling like I made the wrong move with having this done

[shelly13 27]

9. Be prepared for intense fatigue for a few weeks. Like, can't lift your head off the couch, mind-numbing, bone-weary exhaustion. It was explained to me like this: if you put 20 year old fuel in your vehicle, it wouldn't run well. Right after surgery, you intake is so low that you're body has to burn it's stored fuel, and its not a high quality fuel. Get those Protein Drinks in and make sure you stay hydrated, hard as it is and that will help combat some of the fatigue. I promise you this, one day you WILL feel better, stronger, energized.

[TwinsMama 483]

Picking up after Suzy...

9. Don't be surprised when you don't like the drinks/foods you liked pre-op. Our taste buds change.

10. You may feel hunger and it's okay. Some people get hungry while others don't. Your sleeve isn't broken, you're just going to have to deal with hunger.

11. Just because your stomach hurts doesn't mean you have a leak. There are many symptoms of a leak so check those out, before you give yourself a panick attack.

12. Yes in the future you will get to eat and enjoy the foods you miss. You may be surprised that you don't like them as much, but you will get to at least try them again.

[TwinsMama 483]

Wow IM 3week out from the sleeve and I really needed to hear all what u just said ,I thought I was the only one but IM still crying for no reason at 3weeks so I really hope that change soon ,IM trying hard with the amount of Water I should be drinking but it's hard my Protein IM trying to get from eating fish becuz Protein shake not agreeing with my new banana ,I use to be a happy outgoing life of the party girl can't get me to stop talking girl but now I barely talk cry and hardly want to get out the bed ,IM weak must of the time never hungry and I really don't know my body at all right now ,IM really hoping things will change soon ,IM feeling like I made the wrong move with having this done

Oh I feel for you. I had complications and still can't do liquid Protein over 7 weeks out. I'm now not able to do any milk products and Protein drinks make me throw up (yes, I've tried over 15 kinds, none work). Right now, just work on letting your body heal. It will get better over time.

Hugs to you!

[fancy 41]

Thanks alot

[Butterthebean 8,146]

13. Don't expect your GI tract to work the same post surgery as it did before. Weird things will be happening. And under no circumstances should you trust a fart.< /p>

[stacechase 251]

13. Don't expect your GI tract to work the same post surgery as it did before. Weird things will be happening. And under no circumstances should you trust a fart.

LOLOLOL! I will have to remember to "trust no fart."

[pottergirl 261]

Wow IM 3week out from the sleeve and I really needed to hear all what u just said ,I thought I was the only one but IM still crying for no reason at 3weeks so I really hope that change soon ,IM trying hard with the amount of Water I should be drinking but it's hard my Protein IM trying to get from eating fish becuz Protein Shake not agreeing with my new banana ,I use to be a happy outgoing life of the party girl can't get me to stop talking girl but now I barely talk cry and hardly want to get out the bed ,IM weak must of the time never hungry and I really don't know my body at all right now ,IM really hoping things will change soon ,IM feeling like I made the wrong move with having this done

wee are all different...I also believe some of the depression is hormonal....the surgery is ...any surgery is trauma and messes with hormones...don't worry..u will be ok:)

[pottergirl 261]

9. Be prepared for intense fatigue for a few weeks. Like, can't lift your head off the couch, mind-numbing, bone-weary exhaustion. It was explained to me like this: if you put 20 year old fuel in your vehicle, it wouldn't run well. Right after surgery, you intake is so low that you're body has to burn it's stored fuel, and its not a high quality fuel. Get those Protein drinks in and make sure you stay hydrated, hard as it is and that will help combat some of the fatigue. I promise you this, one day you WILL feel better, stronger, energized.

too true! I've already forgotten how hard it was washing my hair..my arms felt like lead!!!! I would have to take a break in the middle of washing my hair!

[pottergirl 261]

Don't forget hair loss! Oops...forgot that one. I think it's the extreme weight loss to our body ..it's a shock, I have lost a lot of hair even getting in Protein and taking 5000 Biotin daily..the good news is my hair is growing back already. Los started at 3 months...I am 6 months out....

[pottergirl 261]

13. Don't expect your GI tract to work the same post surgery as it did before. Weird things will be happening. And under no circumstances should you trust a fart.< /p>

too funny!!

[pottergirl 261]

Wow IM 3week out from the sleeve and I really needed to hear all what u just said ,I thought I was the only one but IM still crying for no reason at 3weeks so I really hope that change soon ,IM trying hard with the amount of Water I should be drinking but it's hard my Protein IM trying to get from eating fish becuz Protein Shake not agreeing with my new banana ,I use to be a happy outgoing life of the party girl can't get me to stop talking girl but now I barely talk cry and hardly want to get out the bed ,IM weak must of the time never hungry and I really don't know my body at all right now ,IM really hoping things will change soon ,IM feeling like I made the wrong move with having this done

please don't feel that way...I remember the two words flashing through my brain immediately after returning home from hospital.'m" irreversible and permanent" fast forward to more from last January and I am over 100 lbs lighter..my blood pressure is perfect and I walked 3 miles this morning and then hiked at least 1 mile tonight...oh..and I ate a cookie last night..I don't eat them alot but once in awhile I indulge in two bites of someone's dessert or whatever it is 'that's going. And I indulge in a couple of cappuccinos weekly...I treat myself but no longer binge. It will get better....they to look ahead..where will you be in 6 months?

[beebs13 48]

Thank you for this post and for remembering how us newbies can feel. I'm still pre- surgery, but I'm trying to get as much info as I can to prepare myself as much as possible.