Cindy F.
Three Months Post-op
May 03, 2013
In one way it's hard to believe it's ONLY been three months since surgery and in others, it seems like a lifetime ago.
It's a couple of days shy of 3 months but I've lost 56 lbs since the pre-op diet. Post op recovery was uneventful, no issues at all. I think I covered in my surgery post that I was on pain meds and Gravol for a day or two post op but that was it. I stopped the meds once the air pains lessened and that was after 48 hours or so. I remember sipping water initially and thinking how cumbersome and unnatural it was, and wondering if I'd ever go back to being able to take a big drink of water, and the answer thankfully is yes. I could probably do that after the first 6 weeks or so.
I didn't drive for the first seven days but found the first couple of days I ran errands I was a little tired / wiped afterwards. I never got so tired that I needed naps though. I loved having February and part of March off, it was a great time to hibernate and recover. I now walk the dog each evening, it's only 20 - 25 minutes but I enjoy it. I haven't been following any eating regiment, I know those on the OH forums are very high protein, low carb and low calories but that doesn't work for me. I stopped losing weight once I hit the pureed stage and didn't lose for a good 5 weeks or so. It was VERY frustrating. I tried low carb, high protein, high carb / low protein, a high calorie day to 'shock' the body, low calorie, more water, etc. nothing moved the scale. And yes I lost inches during the first few weeks but that didn't continue the whole time I was stalled. I then started losing weight again around my monthly cycle but that was only a few pounds again. I noticed in month 3 that I started losing weight again after my cycle but it's been lasting longer (weight loss) this time. Hopefully the body is starting to get up to speed with the calorie restriction and is letting go of the starvation mode.
I have been noticing on the days that I feel like I've eaten a lot (probably 1000 - 1200 calories as opposed to 800) are the days I lose weight but this has just started in the last two weeks so we'll see if that holds true or not. Clothes are fitting better, I'm dropping inches, people are noticing, I'm feeling great, life just seems easier in general. I was never on medications or had breathing issues, so that's not new but my joints feel better, I don't feel so stiff getting out of bed in the morning. I've never gotten sick from eating too much, never had foamies although my stomach will make a low gurgle noise if I've been drinking liquids too soon before eating; it's like there's not enough room and although not painful, there's air trying to release through my mouth (but not gas).
All in all, it's been a great experience, a few headaches and disappointments early on because the weight stall for so many weeks. I'm still amazed at how little I can actually eat. There's many times I WANT to eat more because it's so good but I physically can't (ie, Easter turkey dinner, I could only have a slice of meat, spoonful of dressing and potatoes but no room for broccoli, carrots, pickles, etc, and definitely no room for dessert). I've gotten lax in taking my vitamins and need to get back into the habit of doing such. I do get a B-12 shot once a month instead of taking B12 supplements - one less to remember to take and it's easy.
I had my 6 week appointment with the doctor on March 25th and I return again on June 10th.
