VSG Journey begins Sept 2011

Recent Posts

Babs
on 9/14/11 11:44 pm - Walker, MI
Topic: RE: Just home from hospital gained 9 lbs?
I am feeling better, I gave myself an enema yesterday & that helped tremendously I think I was plugged up, that was part of reason having hard time getting down any protein. Putting 2 tsp of benefiber in each protein drink I have now to make sure it keeps moving. Also going to stop taking pain meds unless absolutely nec as they constipate me also. They make me so loopy & I prefer to feel in my right mind. Slept alot yesterday, finally feeling a littel more energetic today. Our clinic has you purchase their liquid protein shakes, & soups, because my daughter & hubby had this same surg May 2011 there was plenty left, some they could not tolerate or just did not like, since you really can't get in 4 per day plus 64 oz of water there was 52 left and I know probably won't eat them all eiher. When I left the hosp Sat I had started on my second unjury drink which I thought was pretty good. I was able to fini**** & another, but way too tight /bloated. So I decided to let my stomach rule, which means maybe 1 or 2 proteins per day. I am never hungry except for that nasty head hunger that likes to take you over & make you crazy, I can't look at grocery sales ads, because they make me want to eat reg food and I know I can't so I avoid it. Try to stay busy doing things around the house. I have been walking everyday even when I don't feel like it, it is about a 30 min walk to park and back, am going to try to see if can start pushing a little longer each day to get up to an hour. I am not as swollen so I know I have lost all tha****er weight I was holding, my wedding ring is getting so loose that I may need to add some string until I get to goal I am not going to have it made smaller. I have not been on scale & don't plan on getting on until they weigh me at my two week, then will weigh myself weekly. Can't wait to get on reg foods so I can eat with fam sometimes those food smells make me so crazy I have to go outside to get away. Wish there was a surg or something they could do on your brain for the head hunger. My daughter says it does go away after while as she is 4 months out & says eating feels like a chore now as she has to eat & does not get hungry that often. She uses spark ppl, which I have gone to & is awesome has tons of recipes, lots of toosl to track calories, prot, sodium, carbs, sodium, etc, even can choose several recipes & foods to eat  it & will set up shopping list, also tracks your exercise, has tons of videos to show you all kinds of excercies to do. You can also get an app on your smart phone so you can take it with you everywhere. Once I can eat reg food, I will start using it regualrily.
I can do it, I can do it, chugga, chugga, chugga said the little train! Thank you Lord for giving me the strength!    
kattscrowd
on 9/14/11 1:24 pm - Mulberry, AR
Topic: RE: Introduction of Me
Hey Joanne,
How are you feeling?? Getting ready for Monday? You're going to do awesome! My dh did utterly fantastic with surgery last Monday.. he's been driving around today (he got home yesterday) I'm so thrilled with his recovery! Mine was a little rough, but I live with MS, so if anyone is going to do anything strange, it'll be me LOL. Rob's done great though, he was up walking and kept walking all over the hospital post surgery and he seems to just really be feeling good. I pray you have the same type of recovery!
Just wanted to check in with you and say hey!!
Katt

kattscrowd
on 9/14/11 1:19 pm - Mulberry, AR
Topic: RE: Just home from hospital gained 9 lbs?
Hi Babs,
Yup, you tend to gain weight post surgery because of the swelling, it DOES go down, it takes a bit, but it will go down. But glory, it's so discouraging! Once the swelling goes down and you're able to move around a bit more the weight will start to fall off. 
My surgery date was 8/17 and until this past week I hadn't lost hardly any weight. I was down about 4 lbs post surgery. Today I got on the scale and I'm down 10 lbs post surgery. What a rush :) 
this too shall pass :) How's everything else? are you holding down liquids okay? Hubs had surgery Monday and he's trying to eat applesauce and it isn't working that well. I told him to stick with clear liquids, but he's not listening.. he's being a man LOL.
Listen to your doc and stay off the scale (okay.. don't let the scale stress you :)  ) and know that this too shall pass!!! 
Hugs,
Katt

jojomoe523
on 9/13/11 4:16 am - PA
Topic: RE: Can I come here too??
nice to meet you too!  my support is my husband and his mother. she is such a doll and loves me for me, but has always been concerned for me about getting to big. i just can't wait to do it. less than a week and i will be there!

i only have to do a clear liquid diet the day before surgery. i don't know if that is normal with my doctor, or if all my liver and kidney functions are good. my last blood work came back in the normal range for everthing (go figure since i am morbidly obese) even my cholesterol was fantastic.
Babs
on 9/11/11 5:53 am - Walker, MI
Topic: Fourth day since sleeved
Feeling really good today. I walked to the park and back and I thought it was only about 10-15 min, but it took 45 min and I did it without breaking a sweat  it must be the drugs, I am faithfully taking them every 4 hours and they are keeping me from feeling much pain. I drank 4 protein drinks yesterday and almost got all 64 ounces of water in. I have one drink in today and working on one right now. Have almost half the 64 ounces in. Hopefully will be able to get rest in. I get up and walk  around alot, but when I am sitting and doing stuff on computer or watching tv I want to nod off. Can't wait to have some real food, it smells and looks so good. Once on full liquids hoping to have a shake with teh PB2 protein powder and chocolate Nectar made with skim milk and maybe add some banana or some coconut flavoring. Must stop talking about food making myself crazy. I think this is all my head hunger coming out because my stomach is not hungry at all. Dug out some old clothes that I hope to fit into soon. Hope all is well with everyone. Keep us posted on what your up to.
I can do it, I can do it, chugga, chugga, chugga said the little train! Thank you Lord for giving me the strength!    
Babs
on 9/10/11 6:14 am - Walker, MI
Topic: Just home from hospital gained 9 lbs?
I am swollen, but 9 lbs seems like a lot. I hope it goes away and I see some real weight loss. I am flabergasted. Doc sd swelling normal. I must be holding a lot of water to have gained 9 lbs. Anyone know anything about this? I am not getting back on that scale until I go see the cod in 2 weeks. I trust him and he sd not to worry so I won't worry about it.
I can do it, I can do it, chugga, chugga, chugga said the little train! Thank you Lord for giving me the strength!    
kattscrowd
on 9/10/11 3:26 am - Mulberry, AR
Topic: RE: Can I come here too??
Yup, DH = dear hubby aka my knight in shining aluminum :) I'm blessed beyond measure with him. How are you feeling 2 days out from surgery? Did you get home yesterday? I stayed one night in the hospital, that's pretty normal.
We have a homestead type farm, so chores are an issue. Thankfully I have kids that help considerably and it's the time of year where we're just keeping things going.. though I may have some kids born in the next month or so. Rob's planning on going back to work in 2 weeks. I think he'll probably be able to. I was out milking and stuff at 2 weeks and he's a lot stronger than I am.
Thanks for the encouragement.. when I quit smoking I used a forum like this to really help me through, I'm hoping this will be the same thing, because this is a total lifestyle change as well as goals to be met. Nice to meet you and thanks again!

Katt
Insanity Acres
Arkansas

Babs
on 9/9/11 11:52 pm - Walker, MI
Topic: Sleeved 9-8-11
Excellent physician Dr Paul Kemmeter removed my band and sleeved me. I am feeling better each day and today feeling really good. Should get to go home today. Strawberry and vanilla unjury seems to go down best. The Chocolate was good, but too thick and they put some orange cyrstal light in the vanilla and it was too sweet for me. I hope you are all doing well and you need to post to let us know what is going on with you. I get really flemy from drinking the unjury but it is because it is so creamy. It is only mixed with water cause can only have the protein products purchased at my physcians office Grand Health Partners in Grand Rapids, MI they are excellent. They have earned the National Accreditation on WLS so if you need good one they ar it. I am on loritab elxier now and it makes me feel pretty good so if I don't seem to make sense then you know why. Looking forward to trying some of their tomato basil soup as my hubby who had this surgery in May 2011 really likes it, he still eats it even though he does not have to anymore. Iv's are out so I am going to go take a shower and get some laps in so can go home soon. Please keep us posted and up to date on what is going on with everyone.
I can do it, I can do it, chugga, chugga, chugga said the little train! Thank you Lord for giving me the strength!    
Babs
on 9/9/11 11:44 pm - Walker, MI
Topic: RE: Can I come here too??
No need to feel alone, we are here for you. When you say your DH is having it done, are you talking about your spouse? I'm not good on internet abbreviations. :) I had mine 9-8-11 and am doing well. I think the best strategy is to get up every hour until you go to bed at night and walk around 5-10 minutes then get your water and your protein product and sit and sip, sip, sip and realx nap a little, read, whatever. Let everything else go for a while. The weight will come off it just takes tme. Just share together the chores that are absolute and forget the rest until your fuly recoverd. You will get there, one day at a time. I hope all goes well for you and your DH. Keep us up to date on what is going on and how you are doing. Sending lots of encouragement your way.
I can do it, I can do it, chugga, chugga, chugga said the little train! Thank you Lord for giving me the strength!    
kattscrowd
on 9/9/11 5:34 am - Mulberry, AR
Topic: RE: Can I come here too??
Hi Joanne :)
Cool, someone spoke to me My prayers are with you for the 19th. I honestly think the hardest part for me was the waiting. I had to go on strict atkins for 10 days to shrink my liver.. *and* give up diet coke.. horrors Getting through that was rough! Honestly post surgery, hunger hasn't been a problem. Adjusting meds has been an issue (praying it's starting to resolve) and pain has been an issue. For some strange reason I bruised horribly, as well as living with MS, there's always some whackiness going on.
Yesterday I was on the treadmill for a while and that made me feel better. Since I deal with MS, walking is a challenge, but having the handles lets me do it, so that was cool. Today I went to town and did the grocery shopping. Far, far, FAR cheaper now. I'm up to soft foods, so bought some yogurt and powerade at the grocery, the protein shake stuff at wally world and boom, we were out of there. Then to the feed store for the critters... sigh, they weren't cheaper!
I'm excited for hubby to have this surgery. he's got tremendous will-power, so none of the struggles that I deal with are goign to cause him a ripple. He just makes his mind up and he does it.. boom I don't claim to understand, but he's good :) He's got all of his isopure and clear liquid protein drinks for week 1 and is ready to roll. He'll get off work Monday morning, check into the hospital and have surgery. I can't imagine :) But the day I had surgery he did the same thing, worked the night before, then met me at the hospital. He's ready, it's been a long time for both of us. My old dd will also be having the sleeve done on October 5th. Then we'll all be on the same path towards healthier weights. My oldest ds isn't obese, he's heavy, but not too, too heavy. My youngest dd is a nice size, she is a theater major in college and does a lot of dancing and works out a lot. She's also a runner, and is very up on what's healthy for her. Our youngest is a string bean :) all legs and arms... tall and skinny. He takes after hubby's mom.
Who do you have for a support system for you? I think a lot of the recovery is emotional. I'm doing that now. Just feeling alone in all of this. Even though Rob's on my side and is about to do the same thing, it's still a big undertaking. I will tell you something though. The not feeling hungry part is so awesome. I've never not been hungry, never felt full. I can feel full after a protein shake and be fine. Or I can eat a small thingy of yogurt and be satisfied. It's simply amazing. I am ready for the weight to start coming off though, I'm really, really ready for that!
Nice to meet you! 

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