One Month Post-Op Recap

Happy 30!! Yep, I was delighted to have dropped down to 232-ish this morning, on the one month anniversary of my sleeve gastrectomy surgery. Here is a picture from last summer, alongside one from this afternoon. OMG what happened to my hair color? It must have naturally darkened as autumn approached...

So, some thoughts on the surgery and recovery and everything in between in this first month:
- I got exactly what I expected. I credit this to a wonderful surgeon who took all the time I needed to talk to me and provide any and every explanation I asked for, and many I had not, as well. I also think it was a very smart move to start attending the Weight Loss Support group through my hospital as soon as I started contemplating the surgery. Through them, I was able to hear goods/bads/ups/downs of many, many people who had undergone WLS. I saw people before and after their surgeries, so I was able to have a reasonable expectation of what recovery would look like and feel like. I have also met some really great people.
- I have a tremendous support system. Oh my, I couldn't beat my parents out of my hospital room with a club, even though I begged them to leave me alone. (I am someone who wants to be sick or injured in a cave, alone, trying to recover. Visitors at hospitals feel like foolishness to me, unless you're going to say your final goodbyes!) All my friends have stood by me, providing support and love and cheers and lots of wonderful good stuff. It is easy to recover and succeed when you have lots of people holding you up.
- It gets better every single day. Each day, even when I thought I was feeling pretty good, I would feel better the next. And the next and the next and the next.
- You can read all about the stall at 2-3 weeks and think it won't happen to you, but it does. And then it ends. Yay!
- I think I have lost all my weight thus far in my face and my boobs. ;)
- Just because they say you can eat certain foods during the mushy phase (e.g. scrambled eggs, string cheese) does not mean that you will actually be able to. :) Be flexible.
- The changes happen quickly! Even during my nearly two week stall, my measurements were dropping rapidly and the way clothes fit also changed quickly.
- WLS blogs are fun to read. And extremely helpful.
- Plan, plan, plan! My days are much better when I have an idea of what I'm going to eat throughout the day.
- Drink your fluids. I would say my tummy is not very problematic, but it is a big challenge to get my fluids (56+ ounces a day) in. Yesterday, I hit 40 ounces, and that was a struggle.


I may come back and add to these thoughts later, but this kind of the bulk of them. It is strange, adjusting to my new tummy, but I like it, and I am super-delighted with my progress thus far. There have been a few times when I felt like I was locked in a claustrophobic box, wanting to eat but being unable to think of what I could eat. However, most times, I feel fantastic, and not at all distressed about the capacity of my stomach. I am sooooooooooooo excited to see how things unfold for the rest of the year!