My Sleeve Story

[Michelle111 6]

I had my sleeve on January 22, 2014. It went incredibly smooth. After surgery I was up walking within hours. The first few days I found it most difficult to drink warm liquid instead of cool or even room temp. chicken broth was my friend! I never did have, and still haven't really had any pain associated with my incisions. I had pain in the middle of my spine and my shoulder pretty bad the first few days. The surgeon stated that was referred pain from my diaphram being irritated. I did not experience any nausia. Within a couple days of surgery I was out shopping at the mall and out to a movie! I returned to work within a week right after my post op.

The day of surgery I weighed 220. My highest weight was over 280 (my scale only went to 280 so I don't know the true highest). The day after surgery when I went home, I weighed 232! The doctor assured me this was just Water weight and it would take about a month to even out. I am now at 204. I find I stay at the same weight for 2-3 days usually which is suprising just because my calorie intake is still so low. I'm on soft foods for 3 more days. The things I find easiest to eat right now are soft poached eggs, cottage cheese, Soup, shrimp coctail, cheese. I still have at least one Protein Shake a day which I don't love at this point. It doesn't keep me full very long at all, but at least I know I am getting a lot of Protein. Another thing I do is make sugar free pudding and I add Protein Powder to it. That is very filling. I'm suprised that I actually am hungry frequently. I fill up fast, but am hungry again soon. I hope this passes when I am onto my new life long eating plan I keep having to remind myself to eat very slow, take tiny bites, and wait in between bites for the food to go all the way down. I threw up one time last weekend, because I took 2 bites of something too quickly and it just wouldn't go down. I hope to not make that mistake again anytime soon!

I have been overweight my entire life, since 4 or 5 years old. I have had diabetes over 10 years, which was becoming increasingly difficult to manage and I was about to have to go on insullin. My primary driver for surgery was a cure or major improvement in my diabetes. I'm happy to report that I've not taken my diabetic meds since a week before surgery. I'm waking up with a fasting blood sugar of 95 to 105!! I'm very excited.

I found Bariatricpal when I was searching the web for different issues and symptoms post op. I decided to join and I'm so glad I did. I find it very comforting to read other people experiencing some of the same issues I am going through. I hope it will be an encouragement to me, and that I will in turn encourage others.

[LindafromFlorida 1,542]

Best wishes to you Michelle, and welcome here. I was sleeved 11/18/13 and am about the happiest person around! Life could not be sweeter getting the sleeve, even at 67. It was a bit scary some days, feeling like I wasn't sure I was doing things right, but at three months, each day is a gift. I hope you have as much fun planned as I do this summer. Take care! Linda

[Michelle111 6]

Thank you for the encouragement and Linda! I'm so excited for this next chapter in my life. I was scared too being a newly single mother to a young child. My friends all supported me. I am incredibly blessed. I'm also craving a diet coke like crazy heehee oh well! Health is well worth it.

[Michelle111 6]

also... I accidentally posted my story like 3 times. Can I delete one?

[NotSoTall 33]

Hi Michelle. Thanks for sharing your story and please continue to keep us along for the ride.

You've done a great job!

[LindafromFlorida 1,542]

How blessed you are doing this surgery for yourself and your child. Now you can plan a lot of things you might not have been able to do before surgery. Take care of yourself and focus on getting to know the new you. It will be the best gift you could have given yourself. Never thought I could go a day without Diet Coke, but I swear, in this 7 month journey I do not even want one. Have not even missed them, much less the money I spent and the grocery store trips buying 10 at a time LOL!