Ramble all  you want!  This is how I learn..  I figured the surgery wasn't any worse than a C-section and I have had two of those!!!   (but wanted to make sure first!!)

I can't wait to go to the seminar on the 1st.   I am  a stay at home mom.  I will take your advice on taking it easy when I get to that stage for sure...  Anything and everything you share with me helps a lot!

Gena

Gena,

Everyone seems to have different levels of pain. I actually never took a pain pill, mostly because I didn't want to swallow it.

It's pretty tough while your in the liquid phase. It was a bit emotional for me, your hormones get all wacky and the family still has to eat, but as soon as you can start mushies, the sun begins to shine brighter every day.

It might be a little tough with a two year old. I have a six year too!  Your not suppose to pick up anything over 10 lbs (I think) for a while and then I don't think your suppose to do any heavy strength training either you don't want to get a hernia. 

I went back to work a week later, I have a office job that allowed me to be puny for a few more days.
I started water aerobics about seven weeks out and was reminded I had surgery.  But it's nothing bad, I've had a few surgeries and the overall pain a recovery was one of, if not the easiest one. 

You'll read on these sights that it's a roller coaster and it really is.  You start changing so fast in so many ways.  The way you live is completely changed, but it's good and somehow it works. 
Before we ate out all the time, now I really don't want to deal with going out, it's not so enjoyable for me anymore.

I'm sorry, I think I'm starting to ramble beyond the question. Back to your two year old, if your a stay at home mom, it will be a little tough, you'll be able to gage my the end of the week. 
But you are having major surgery, so it's going to be challenging regardless. But, each day does get better, just take it easy at first.  I had my surgery at physicians hospital and stayed two days because I wanted to. I think the better you can take care of yourself right off the bat, it will really help you out.
Take it easy for as long as you can.

Hope this helps a bit!
Julie

 

Hello there Sybul!

My name is Mike - I am new to the area, and I posted an introcution in this message board but I am just waiting on the moderator to post it.  I look forward to meeting as many local surgery folks as possible.  I really need the support :)

Have a beautiful day!

Mike

Hello everyone! 

My name is Michael, I am 44 years old, and I live in Maumelle, Arkansas.  I am originally from Los Angeles, then I moved here for love (lol!) and I am very happy.

I started my journey on January 7, 2004 at 440 pounds (photo in my gallery), and then after a lot of trial and tribulation and an open distal RNY (and a few complications and a number of hospitalizations - however I would do it all again!), I got down to a very super skinny 150 pounds.

Now, for a 5'11" man, that is too skinny and ridiculous - and I looked like something the cat dragged in!  So, I friend of mine who is a semi-pro bodybuilder took me under his wing, and with his help, I managed to gain healthy muscle and get an actual body! (the other pic in my gallery) - that is me at 190 pounds.

Well, over the past year, I stopped going to the gym and lifting weights altogether from lack of time with my new job here in Little Rock, and I also ballooned up to 218 pounds!!!  I was miserable!

I decided that I could no longer do it alone.  I got onto the Back On Track eating plan, taking all of my supplements again, and being a more conscious person with not drinking while eating, and I am back down again to 200.  Whew!  Am I ever happy!

The only sad part is, that I have still not gone back to the gym and hit the weights again.  I really want to, but I have so much stress and pressure in my life - and on top of that, being strict on an eating regimen again, it all has my head reeling.

That is why I am back here finally.  Almost 2 years ago I decided that I no longer needed support (BIG mistake - how ****y of me!), and I closed down my OH account and stopped going to meetings.  Well, I am reaching out to our community again, realizing that this is a life-long commitment, and there will NEVER be a time in my life when I will not need support.

So, my goal is to get back down to around 180 (not too far to go!), and GET MY MUSCLES BACK.  I don't look TOO bad right now, but I am not as cut as I was in the photo from last year (in my gallery).

Also - I will then need to get my plastics still, I never got that far.  So I have the "apron" just like everyone else who has lost all that weight! LOL....

At any rate, I really look forward very much to getting to know some of my new AR neighbors - and if any of you are in the Little Rock or Maumelle area, PLEASE let's connect and become friends!  I am really a great guy, and I could use the support!

With much peace and love to everyone,

Mike

Hey Gena!

I was really worried, because I was a bonafide food addict. If it tastes good, I ate a lot of it, if it sounded good, I was on my way to get it.

The week before surgery all the fast food restaurants were calling my name, I did some serious (unnecessary) food funeraling.

The sleeve has taken my cravings away, I don't "have" to have anything.
It really zapped my sweet tooth too. This has been a real blessing for me.

I've had a tiny bit of fast food and it tastes terrible, it's like I just taste the additives now. And sweet stuff is still really good, I don't need to be around it my any means, but I don't crave it or have to eat tons of it.  My husband and son made cookies a while back and I ate one. I even felt a bit guilty for one, but before I would of had 15 and put another batch in the oven.

My aunt had RNY, so I don't know if this is a sleeve or RNY thing, but she became lactose intolerant and has a hard time with eggs.
I eat eggs all the time and actually have more dairy then I ever did before.

The only thing that is uncomfortable to me now is cold water. I use to drink water all the time, but now it kind of sits hard and it's like I can taste the minerals in it. I live off of hot tea and have some sugar free hot chocolate now and then.

I drank coke everyday before, I took one sip of it after and spewed it out, it tasted like diesel and the carbonation about took my socks off. Which was a good thing for me. :-)

The hardest part is getting through that two week liquid phase after surgery, well the week before isn't a blast either. But, it's do-able.  Before, I though it was impossible.

Wishing you the best! This is so exciting!!!

Julie