I think I'm regretting the sleeve

[Selina1000 17]

I totally dislike almost all of the pre-made Protein drinks. They are WAY to thick for me. I do use the Premier brand, but add 1/2 cup of skim milk to thin it out (also adds protein), to the chocolate, I add a couple of Tbsp. of creamy Peanut Butter, helps a bunch (and more protein). to the vanilla, I add frozen real juice concentrate, a couple of Tbsp.

My saving grace is the powders?utm_source=BariatricPal&utm_medium=Affiliate&utm_campaign=CommentLink" target="_ad" data-id="1" >unjury Protein, not only to they have the regular vanilla, chocolate, strawberry, but they have chicken and unflavored!! I have them both, in canister & packet form (so I can take it with me). The unflavored works in anything, V-8 juice, XXX Zero Water, crystal light, you can even use it to make sugar free instant pudding and Jello.

The chicken flavor is just like having Soup broth, but you get 21 grams of protein!

[I will what I want 271]

I had the sleeve and a hernia repair on Aug 26, was in the hosp for five days and have regretted it every day since (was on medical leave from my desk job for a month). This was the most painful thing I've ever gone thru. It's gotten better, however, I still deal with a pain right under my breast every time I drink. It feels like what I'm drinking gets stuck for a minute then it goes down. Because of this pain, I now have a fear of drinking/eating. I've lost 37 lbs (most of it muscle mass). I haven't once got my Protein in (most I get is maybe 40 grams). I'm getting better with Water, I just fill up so fast. And I hate every Protein Powder and shake out there. (Don't get me started on all the Vitamins I should be taking.....bought them all and they sit unopened).

What has happened to me??? My doctor says I'm "wired" different than any patient he's ever had. My absolute biggest fear is that I'm going to lose my hair. I know there's something wrong with me. Has anyone else gone thru anything like this? Any suggestions or ideas to help me thru this would be greatly appreciated. Thank you everyone!

If you are still having so much pain I wonder if you still have a lot of inflammation from the hernia repair. I also had a massive hernia repaired and while in the hospital had a rare complication that required them to take me off the narcotics for 6 hours. During that time they gave me Tordol, which as I understand it is a anti-inflammatory. It helped a lot. When they put me back on the narcotics I requested to keep getting the Tordol as well. (I was in awful, hard to control pain). Now that I'm home, and off all but a little Vicodin, my pain is very manageable. Much less than my surgeon expected. My theory is that all the Tordal reduced the swelling from the hernia repair and from my stomach. I can drink very normally and with no pain. Maybe it's something you can talk to your surgeon about? I personally don't believe in pain and feel that everything should be done to control it. I'm sorry you are going through this - you may have to get insistent with your team that they help you more. You being "wired differently" has no baring on the situation other than meaning he needs to get creative. (Now I'm getting angry on your behalf). PM me if you need support. All my Best to you.

[makemyownluck 785]

I can attest that depriving yourself WILL make your hair fall out. I am the WORST at taking my Vitamins. THE. WORST. And my already thin hair is even thinner now... and breaking off as well. It feels like a dolls hair - thin, whispy... at this point, I don't know how to fix it!

I have Biotin, was taking that regularly for the first 6-7 months post op, and still noticed the Hair loss. Likely due to less Protein and nutrition than my body needs... still trying to "do the right things" since surgery... I've even noticed my thin eyebrows are thinner, and my nails are weaker as well. I can't grow them past my fingertips, they just flake off or break.

Like I said, my hair was thin to start off with, so IDK that anyone else really notices the difference. I'm not bald or anything, but I can definitely tell that it's much thinner than it used to be. I use the small ponytail holders and have to wrap them around my hair 3-4 times... my step daughter's hair (she's 6) can barely be wrapped TWICE with those!

[MadamShuffleFly 0]

I'm in the same boat. I'm so hungry and I'm already sick of my allowed foods. I had the surgery almost two weeks ago and as for right now I regret ever deciding to do this. Weight Watchers was hard, but I could still eat and not have discomfort, or feel like I'm going to be sick if I take six bites of food instead of five. I'm just really low right now and can't wait to see my psychiatrist on Monday. I just wish that everything was an instant fix; like the surgery would just take away my cravings and that I would just be content with 5 oz. of liquids every three hours. I hate that my entire life (for the rest of my life) will be a constant reminder that I can't eat food like I use too and its depressing me. I just want to feel normal, and maybe in six week I will, but for now, I just want to take a giant sleeping pill that reverses time and that would allow me to know exactly what I'm getting into and the psychological ramifications.

[VSGAnn2014 12,992]

I'm in the same boat. I'm so hungry and I'm already sick of my allowed foods. I had the surgery almost two weeks ago and as for right now I regret ever deciding to do this. Weight Watchers was hard, but I could still eat and not have discomfort, or feel like I'm going to be sick if I take six bites of food instead of five. I'm just really low right now and can't wait to see my psychiatrist on Monday. I just wish that everything was an instant fix; like the surgery would just take away my cravings and that I would just be content with 5 oz. of liquids every three hours. I hate that my entire life (for the rest of my life) will be a constant reminder that I can't eat food like I use too and its depressing me. I just want to feel normal, and maybe in six week I will, but for now, I just want to take a giant sleeping pill that reverses time and that would allow me to know exactly what I'm getting into and the psychological ramifications.

I see posts like this all the time that say, essentially: "I was just sleeved. I hate this. I can't deal with the rest of my life being like this! Why didn't I understand it would be horrific like this?"

Protip: Your life won't always be like this. You're two weeks post-op. You're recovering from major surgery. You'll feel better every week, maybe every day. A month, two months from now you probably won't even remember how uncomfortable you were two weeks post-op. Buck up. It's going to get a lot easier -- faster than you think. And the way it gets easier if you just do today what you're supposed to do today. And tomorrow do what you're supposed to do tomorrow. That's all.

[Huggies123 28]

Hey everyone, since I started this thread, I wanted to provide an update on my condition (especially for the ones who are going thru a rough time).

For some reason (and I used to read this in other posts and didn't really believe it), this last weekend I finally felt SO much better. It literally happened in just a day or two. I just felt so much better. And I was finally able to get in my 60 grams of Protein (first time). I even went to the gym to start the strength and toning part of my workout.

I think the biggest reason I started feeling better is I wasn't in anymore pain. Pain from the surgery, pain from drinking too fast, nothing. Now, if I experience something uncomfortable, I know what it is and fix it. But the biggest thing that finally clicked was the mental adjustments I had to make, they finally fell into place. It took a few weeks but I am finally learning what I need to do to help my new body adjust to this.

People, doctors, whoever can tell you you need to mentally prepare yourself for this surgery beforehand. I'm sorry but there is absolutely NO WAY you can mentally prepare yourself for something like this. You don't know what type of recovery you'll experience, you don't know what mental battles you'll endure. So you don't really know what to prepare yourself for.

I can tell you it's going to get better but that doesn't help you now when all you want to do is self medicate yourself and just sleep the day away. All I can say is it does suck right now and it's ok to regret what did at this moment. I had people tell me to write out my feelings or talk to someone. But when all you want to do is crawl under the covers and not talk to anyone, those are the last things you want to do.

Honestly, there is nothing anyone can say that is going to make your situation better right now. You have to get thru this part yourself. And only you can figure out the mental adjustments you need to make. It's your recovery......you complain, whine or vent as much as you want. You have gone thru a major surgery, you now have to get thru the mental changes. One nice thing is I'm now able enjoy the small victories like the 40 lbs I've lost in the last two months. And in a few more weeks, I pray you will be able to too.

Thank you to everyone for your stories, suggestions and advice. This site and everyone on it has truly been a blessing. No one can truly understand what this journey is like unless you've gone thru it.

Good luck to my "Sleeve Sisters" and PM if you need anything.

[Rovobay 920]

@@VSGAnn2014 protip is some good advice.

[JCP 619]

So glad you feel better. Just think how good we'll feel by the holidays!

[Eukeeemj 7]

I am 1 week and 1 day out and I'm so glad you wrote this, I really needed to read this today! I have been having such a bummy day and was really starting to feel depressed but to know that there really is a light at the end of the tunnel will help keep me going!

[Huggies123 28]

I am so glad it helped. I was just

Hoping to connect to other people who haven't had a fast recovery. To be honest, while it was wonderful to read about people recovering so fast, it was also frustrating knowing I couldn't relate to them. I would think "did I do something wrong" or "maybe I shouldn't have done this". But once you start feeling better, a light goes off and you're like "ok, I get it now". It's re-learning your body and figuring out what it's trying to tell you. Once you have that figured out (in addition to no more pain from the recovery), you will see that light at the end of the tunnel. Good luck!!!

[VSGAnn2014 12,992]

Glad to hear you're doing so much better, Huggies.

[Huggies123 28]

Thank you!!!

[mlm28 27]

I just found your post now....I was sleeved on the 8th July and also hernia and lipoma fixed. I am in bed now, sick after I had a bite of salmon and a bite of an egg. I feel much better knowing I am not the only one with issues. I don't regret the sleeve but I am so confused with all the sickness. I still cannot eat solid food without problems. I did lose weight -about 25kg (55lb)- but I am just so fed up sometimes. I wish you all the best ang good luck on the weight loss. Hugs to you all.

[VSGAnn2014 12,992]

mlm ... wow, that's so not normal. Really sorry to hear about this.

What does your surgeon say could be causing your ongoing problems?

[mlm28 27]

Ann my biggest problem is my surgeon is 2k miles away so we communicate via emails. Anyway, he says it happens in some cases and to go back on fluids when it happens....to bad it's verry often. I also noticed I feel worst when I am very stressed and unfortunately I am a worrying person.