Week 5 update: (This is the updated post from my personal blog at www.mommyceos.blogspot.com )

This last week has been kind of rough, I'm not going to lie. I'm down 61 lbs which is absolutely awesome...it just didn't come without some pain and frustration. So the pain (or aching really) I've experienced is this: It feels as though my stomach is churning all the time. I've yet to figure out if I'm not eating often enough, enough food, too much food, too fast or whether it's a combination of all the above. This is why I say that. When I wake up first thing in the morning, my stomach just aches. It's like it's been churning against itself for hours and it really does just ache and make me feel almost sick to my stomach. So I've found that baby cereal (about 3 oz) fills my belly and calms the churning...for awhile. Then I try to go throughout the day eating or drinking every few hours. So far every combination I've tried (nothing but liquid, nothing but baby food, a mixture of liquid and baby food, some solid soft foods, etc, etc etc.), and I have yet to have a day out of the last 8 that was free of this aching in my belly at some point or another throughout the day. I've completely cut out reg milk and ice cream and am limiting all other dairy because my stomach is definitely still lactose intolerant. That is one thing I've been able to figure out. Otherwise, I'm still just learning and taking it day by day, meal by meal. I had a friend who also had this procedure done tell me that she went through a phase where she absolutely dreaded eating....I totally get that right now. It feels like I'm damned if I do and damned if I don't. Add to the struggles with my belly a sort of mourning about food. We were out of town this entire week (which makes this process of healing REALLY hard FYI) and for some reason it has just hit me that I'm kind of sad that I will never eat the same again. It made no sense what so ever for me to pay for a buffet. I couldn't go with my family to a steak house, I couldn't go with them to a Johnny Rockets or a In N Out Burger, etc, etc. I know that I will one day be able to eat small portions of some of those types of foods but I really was experiencing a sense of mourning to losing those foods and/or eating and social situations. That may sound crazy...I hope not...lol. I've also been craving salad like no other and that is another two months away...so that is difficult. Another issue is that I know I'm not getting enough water in but that makes my belly ache too so I hesitate to drink as much as I know I need to...ugh. I've tried water alone, adding crystal light, really cold, warm, etc. It doesn't matter. Sigh... But alas, I know this all too shall pass, and I apologize for the negative post. I just thought it was important for everyone to know it's not all sunshine and rainbows. BUT even with this week being the most difficult I've experienced so far, I still have ZERO regrets. I'm still losing weight, my body is still shedding the weight that was trying to kill me and I'm still extending my time on this earth with my family. With that said, I'm going to go research stuff on GastricSleeve.com to see if I can find others who've experienced the same issues and can provide some comfort. <3

Hope you all have an awesome week!

**Week 5 Update** So last night I was doing a bunch of research online and talking to others who have been sleeved about the stomach issues I've had this week. Everyone had the same answer saying that there is too much acid in my stomach and to increase my acid reducer. So I'm going to go to the pharmacist this morning and get their recommendations on what to take through the weekend until I can get into the Dr on Monday or Tuesday for something that is prescription strength. I've been taking prilosec and then last night I also took another acid reducer and it seemed to help. (It was a no name brand and not very strong but helped.) So I'm hopeful that I can get some relief from this sour stomach and be able to eat/drink like I need to. I haven't been able to get in enough protein or water the last few days and I've been worried about that. Now I feel like I'm back on track and have a plan.