WLS Veteran's Forum

Hey Vets - I really need to snag some shut-eye while I can but I wanted to drop in and say I posted a birth announcement for our daughter in the pregnancy board. I hope everyone is doing well and once this overseas PCS nonsense is finally over and we can rest a bit I'll be back to post my usual helpful, sarcastic or just plain mean posts. In the meantime, we're enjoying our little one immensely and can't wait for our new normal to finally start. ~Cheri Oh, here's the link to make life even easier. http://www.verticalsleevetalk.com/topic/75022-shes-here/#entry762158

I was sleeved over 2 years ago and it has been amazing for me. About a week ago I think I ate too much and am experiencing something I've never felt before. I wouldn't call it pain, but I have a very uncomfortable "pressure" on my left side below my navel. It feels kind of like gas but more achey than that. After it first happened last week I went on a liquid diet for a couple days and after it didn't get better, went to the doc. It sounded like a classic case of Diverticulitis and I got some antibiotics. After a few days I started feeling better, then last night I had a few sushi rolls and walnuts and it kicked back up again. Has anyone else experienced this?

Are there any vets who have experienced problems changing from weight loss to maintenance? Because mentally, I am struggling to adjust. During my losing phase, I was dedicated, or maybe I should say Dedicated - capital D. I went from 255 to 124 in 10 months. Had plastic surgery. Have a complication from losing weight too fast (it's incredibly rare, but does happen). Now, I see myself and see a size 10 - but I actually wear a 0 or maybe a 2. To me, it seems if I just lose 10-12 more lbs maybe that would be perfect. But each weight I reach that's been what I think - just another 10 lbs and it will be enough. I can't tell if it's really a problem, or just a natural …

Poll... How long did your hairloss last? How was your regrowth? Go!

So I've been dealing with, what I'm referring to as, my Plateau From Hell since November (which is when I hit the one year mark). For the first couple of months I wasn't bothered by it at all....afterall, plateaus/stalls are such a normal part of our journey!! It was actually nice to get through the holidays without gaining so much as an ounce but then after January came and went, I started getting a little frustrated!! I'm not obsessing about it (maybe I should be LOL!) and I haven't really talked about it much. But a few days ago, while on a hike with one of my best friends, I shared my frustration. She asked me if maybe I'm eating too much or not eating the righ…

Just checking in. How is everyone doing at or near the one year mark from surgery? Overall, I feel great. I've lost 115 lbs and still have 35 to go. Dropped from a size 28 to a size 12-14 I've had MANY plateaus and stalls with some passing feelings of failure/frustration because I'm not at goal today -- the one year mark. I, however, feel GREAT and am so grateful I did the surgery and attitude adjustment. Summary: Sticking to the low carb/high Protein way of eating; typically eat 1000-1100 calories a day; 90 grams of protein; less than 40 grams of carbs; drink my required 70+ oz of liquids (tea and coffee primarily) and take my daily Vitamins. BM's (my most di…

Yesterday I went on a hike, a fairly steep hike although only 2 miles each way, with my son. It was georgeous weather and I literally felt on top of the world and so dang ... AWESOME... that I could do this. We weren't as fast as the fit 20s crowd running up the mountain, but we hauled ass compared to most of the 40+ crowd. I just feel wonderful that I am so dang normal... actually, I am better then normal!!! The photos below are of me and pup pre-hike and then a view from the top... and finally a look from the bottom... we climbed to the top of that big rock!

Hi veterans! I had my surgery June 20, 2012. I started at a weight of 215 and I am five foot tall. When I began my weight loss, I set a goal for myself of 115 pounds. That was a weight I maintained for quite a while in college, and I was quite happy there. It was exactly a loss of 100 pounds, and i liked that nice round number. I am currently at 127 pounds, give or take. Since those skinny college days, I have had 3 children and 3 c sections... I cannot seem to get below that 127, and I work out every day and eat around 1200 calories each day. I have kind of big bones for such a short person, and i DO have a minimal amount of loose skin, maybe about 5 pounds worth... I a…

I went to Las Vegas this weekend to see the Eagles concert. We arrived on friday night and then on Saturday we did a large amount of walking. By the time I got to my destination, my right knee starting hurting really really bad and I had to take a taxi back to our hotel. I rested and drank my usual amoung to water and started walking to the MGM and my knee started killing me. I was in so much pain that I was going to cry. It was worst than the pain after the surgery and I'm about 18 months post op. After concert went back to the hotel and took some pain meds..... Then my torso started hurting so bad..... The next day I was so nauseous. The only thing I can think of is …

I am not a big drinker but enjoy the occasional drink when going out with friends. I never have more then 1 or maybe 2 if over a long evening out. Last night I was a basketball widow and since taking Friday off...it wasn't a work night. I was tired after a long day and decided to have a glass of wine at home. Mistake! I was tired and hadn't eaten for about 7 hours. I think I had a second glass..not sure. I was in bed by 9, never did eat dinner. Wow that really shocked me how this hit me. I won't do THAT again!

I know I know....another person complaining... but I'm having a major issue breaking through to the 230s...I've been in the 240s for 3 weeks now....bouncing back and forth 4 pounds.... I need some direction, positive thoughts right now... I'll be 9 months post op March 11th.....and I feel like if I just go on protien drinks and yogurt I can breakthrough, but I really dont want to manipulate my body like that because, well I know I will regret it later.... any thoughts or suggestions

Am I the only one here who never needed B12 supplement? My doc never prescribed me one (which I don't understand) and I never took it....just a one a day Multivitamin. But I just had my blood work done and my B12 is right in the middle of happy. Never had any symptoms of anemia either. Looking at a list of foods high in B12, I hardly eat any of the top 5 (clams, oysters, liver, octopus and caviar) bit I do eat a lot of the 6-10 foods on the list (fish, beef, cheese and eggs). Am I unusual? Did my doc not cut away enough stomach (tongue in cheek), or am I just getting enough from food?

I am just over a year out from surgery, and am doing well (in my opinion) on the weight loss front. I have lost 100 pounds (285 to 184ish at 5'9"), and am just 10 pounds from what I considered my "stretch" goal weight, meaning what I thought before surgery to be my "thats too skinny" weight. That weight is 175, and is what I am after now. Yet, I have fallen off the "diet" wagon, as well as the exercise wagon, and am stalled. In all seriousness, I can handle the stall. No big deal. I'm not gaining. I'm at my original goal weight. I'm sure I will pick it back up again and find a way to drop that final 10 once summer gets here. What worries me is this: I am back…

I am almost to my goal weight and am thrilled to be in a size 12. I do not wish to be a size 6 - having said that. Why can't I be happy with this body and size? Today when I bought a new pair of shorts I held them up and thought "those sure look small" then went home and thy slipped right on. Why do I still feel big? Is it because I lost so fast? Is size 12 to big to decide to maintain? I hope this qualifies as a vet question. Thank you!

Ok guys and gals, I'm 13 months out and have lost #160. I'm having a problem with low blood pressure and also orthostatic hypotension (bp bottoming out upon standing or sudden movement.) I stay really weak and black-out at least 2-3 times a day. I understand this is pretty common among people that have lost a boat-load of weight. Has anyone else here experienced this? And if so, about how long did it take it to resolve (if it did.) Any tips to help ? (other than don't move fast :0P) Sent from my iPhone using VST

Prior to WLS, I did not have friends outside of family and work. Honestly, I think it was because I was such an introvert before with antisocial tendencies. My self esteem was in the dumps after years of being rejected as an obese person. Now that I have gotten to goal weight and have made many lifestyle changes for the better I am finding myself to be a much more social individual. I am seeking friendships. The question is how do you guys go about making new friends now that you are at or near goal weight? I know it is about finding like minded people in shared activities, but it seems a bit foreign to me. I joined cross fit partly last week in an attempt to meet ne…

I was looking through some old pictures of mine, and then some others on here. The "befores". I noticed the strained smiles and pain in the eyes. We were all hurting so much. That is one of the big gifts of the sleeve. Freedom from that pain when a camera is pointed your way, or your spouse sees you naked with the lights on, or your last pair of pants don't fit. Why did that pain send me running to food? It did. Than the guilt and self incriminations! I am still in the loosing phase, but somewhere during my loss that voice got nixed. I don't even mind my husband seeing me with the lights on! I want a ticker for that! Or maybe a parade.

I know for me, and probably for a lot of us, I went into VSG with expectations: I'd be happier with myself, my body, and with that I know just like when I would diet when I was fat, came the sense that everything else in my life would be affected by it and somehow better. Prior to VSG, my life often centered around food. Either I was avoiding it to lose weight (that never worked for long!) or binging on it and feeling guilty. My weight affected my mood, my joy, my pain- everything since I was a teenager. I imagine many of us can related to that. The body of mine that was technically obese 2 years ago, now is at a BMI of 20 (yes, 20!) and getting a lot of praise and a…

Breakthrough realization on one of my issues with food and eating. It may be one of yours, too. I have a naturally high stress level. It may be anxiety or pressure from work or pressure I place upon myself. I was watching something online about a woman who had lost a lot of weight and she said that she felt a relief from stress when she ate something crunchy that challenged her jaws. She had enjoyed chips, crackers, ..anything crunchy because those things provided a necessary relief from stress. Try rubbing your jaws with your fingertips. Do you feel tension there? She then described how she now always keeps very fresh crunchy things nearby such as celery, carrots…

I am always sliming or getting the uncomfortable feeling after eating 3-4 ounces of dense Protein (a little dry) at lunch and dinner meals. I am eating seaweed salad at lunch. It feels like the Vargus nerve feeling because I get numb/cold hands, dizzy, light headed and ringing in the ears, even 10 min later. I am trying to eat slow, but that is my biggest weakness. Takes me about 5 minutes to chew the protein. Any suggestions so I can eat my veggies to get the nutrients? I like the taste of seaweed salad!! As you know, I am 7 months post op. Edit: move this post to POST OP forum.

Daughter leaves for boot camp in the morning... Having a rough emotional day... Thank god for a small pouch but have eaten more then I normally do. Upside that only means 1032 cal today and 115 g of protein... But damn hope this feeling doesn't last!!! Just reminds me of how I still rely on food... Not a good feeling

I am 2 pounds away from my goal! A friend asked me yesterday if I am planning a big celebration or party and it occured to me that I had put zero thought into how to acknowledge this HUGE milestone. On some levels, I think I have always had some doubt about if I would achieve it but now it is looking quite certain! When I get to goal, I will have lost 150# from the start of my preop diet. (I was actually heavier than that at one point but that is where i started counting). I have lost a whole freaking normal sized woman or two kids or about 18 newborns.... you can think of this alot of different ways - but i have lost alot of weight and it deserves some kind of rec…

Not a rant... Here I am with Peter Noone, lead singer for Herman's Hermits. He is one year older than me, 65, he's a rock singer,(notorious for hard living), and he looks younger. Granted, he didn't balloon up to 330+ pounds and then lose it in a year, get treated for prostate cancer, and he has a ton of make-up on, but..dang! The biggest difference is the turkey neck..gobble, gobble. I am glad my wife loves me whether my neck flaps in the wind or not. I have no desire to blimp it out again with fat globules. Surgery is out of the question at this time. I just have to lay low at Thanksgiving.

Poll... How long did your hairloss last? How was your regrowth? Go!

I have a couple of events coming up that are social mixers for my new job. I have never been much of a drinker and especially after surgery. Pre surgery I would have a beer or two at such events. Now, post surgery, I'm concerned about the carbonation and not tolerating beer well. Same story with mixed drinks. So fellow sleevers, when you do have a drink what has worked out best for you?

I loves it, but have definately had some wild emotions at times. Lately, i have been feeling more normal, but occasionally have something happen that reminds me of this wild journey. I have been going to the office alot and been asking for different/new work assignments. It is really helping me feel better - like I am getting my life back. anyway, Friday I ran into a woman that I used to work with quite a bit - say 5 years ago. i saw her this summer, after I had lost probably 90-100# but I keep "reshaping". The LAST 20# I have lost have been more shocking to everyone then the first 100# somehow. I have lost about 140 now and I am a pretty solid size 10 now, and wh…

I did a search for this type of topic because I know I've read something here before on skipping a size in clothing, but my search didn't show any results. I've thought...surely not. There is no way that you can skip a size in clothing. That makes no sense at all. I would not have believed it if it hadn't happend to me. After several months of fairly decent weight loss I was down about 54 lbs, then I hit a long stall. For about 6 weeks my weight would go up and down 1-2 lbs over and over again. It was slightly frustrating, but nothing to cry about. I tried a few things but nothing worked. Then I read a post about D3 and Calcium, so I started taking 6000 IUs a day …

I came home from a week of restaurant eating limited excercise and instead of gaining, I actually made goal. I am beside myself with joy. I never really believed this day would come. 11/30/2011 Start of preop weighed 308 12/11/2011 Day of surgery weighed 300 2/23/2013 - 14 months later I weigh 158/size 8/fit and healthy!!!!! wooo hooooo I will have to do a post with photos later... but off to the gym. I was just so excited I had to share with my fellow vets!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Any idea if we can switch from calcium citrate to calcium carbonate after 6 months? Carbonate is a heck of a lot cheaper, especially from Costco. Maybe our bodies do not require the citrate any longer? Your thoughts?

During the time I was in "active weight loss", the first 12 to 18 months or so, the frequent congratulations and " you look so good" comments were awesome. They were one of the things that kept me diligent and working to follow all the rules and stay on track. I don't mean to say that I was an attention hound, but the immediate feed back was a motivator and felt great. In addition there were NSV victories coming left and right, the ability to climb stairs, fit in stadium seats, set in booths, etc were more instant gratification and motivation Now most of the people I encounter don't know anything about me "before" or have already shared in my transformation. I have …

I have shared over the past year or so the many different struggles I have had with seeing myself accurately. I have had a couple of mental breakthroughs the last few weeks and I thought it might be insightful to some others who are struggling with the same thing. I am like 5# from goal now. I felt that my goal is high - it is like a 26 or 27 BMI and I kept wondering if I really should lose another 10-15 or 20 (or honestly is there a number that is enough?) amount less then that to get to a "proper" weight for my height. I have had some friends concerned about this because they keep telling me it is time to stop losing. I had the plastic surgeon tell me the same thi…

Background: At almost 5 months out I've lost 64 lbs. It has not always been easy. The first 8 weeks especially had a lot of ups and downs. On Jan. 1, 2013 I stopped drinking shakes/protein supplements per my surgeon's recommendation. I did have a stall for about 4-5 weeks in which I lost not a single pound, but my clothing was looser. After 2 weeks of extra D3 and Calcium, my weight loss has returned. I started at 219 lbs and am now 155 lbs. I had around 4 different sizes in my closet and I have gradually cleaned out my closet as my size has changed and things became too big. I took some things to a consignment shop and the rest went to Goodwill. At this point, I have…

I had my one year follow-up and my surgeon upon hearing that weight loss has stalled and slowed said that I might be done losing weight, but for maybe another few pounds or so, He is happy with me. He doesn't want me eating too little trying to force weight loss because this may be where my body is happy. I suppose I could live being a bit overweight according to the charts. I'm not sure. I know what he means about not starving myself and trying to force the issue. That could backfire in some some yo-yo stuff that I'd rather not experience. Today I am starting a strict Vitamin and Protein regimen. I already started with the Vitamins last week. Labs were normal, but my c…

I had the time under my belt, but not the posts....I mad posted this evening so I could join you!

Hi all, I've been at goal almost a year and in May I will be 2 years post op. I'm interested in hearing what other vets are eating on a good day. I'm not talking about the day I went to the movies and ate a bunch of popcorn and some ice cream bon-bons, I mean every day on average, I'm trying to drop back to goal weight ( I have been hanging about 138-140 since before Christmas, with a couple of days over 140), so I have cut back on 1 oz. of Protein at lunch and removed the starch from Breakfast. I've also cut back on my after dinner snack, which was 2 graham crackers and a couple tablespoons of Peanut Butter and cocktails out. So far, so good. I weighed 138.5 this mor…

These pictures were taken exactly 1 year apart! We go camping at Disney Fort Wilderness every year and this was my 1st "skinny" camping experience!! Just got back yesterday, weather was absolutely amazing.

Hello folks...some may remember me...I was banded in 2007, lost 130 pounds, had a lower body lift and breast lift with augmentation and was the healthiest I have ever been. Then, on December 7, 2010 I was diagnosed with breast cancer and that's when the weight began. Following surgery and treatment I had packed on 20 pounds. My outlook on life changed after hearing "cancer" and I wanted to enjoy every minute of life and wasn't paying attention to calories and didn't take time to work out. I had also gone through a divorce but was dating an amazing man. Six months after treatment ended I was pregnant. Fear went through my body for many reasons...pregnancy wasn't good…

Veterans such as former military? Or veterans such as long-time bandsters (people who were one of the first to be banded)?

Hey everyone! I moved my blog if any of you are interested in following my trials in maintenance http://aleadsinger.wordpress.com/ 2.5 years out, 136lbs down.

I'm a veteran!!! Im 21 months out and have over 200 posts on here! Woohoo! I've lost 111 pounds and am renewing my wedding vows in a lovely size 14 dress with 4 inch heels! I havent gotten to my goal yet, but should be there by summer, juat short of 2 years!

So, I should start by saying, I am so happy having lost all this excess weight. I feel good, I look good (in clothes anyway!) and the most important thing is I can do so many things. I am fit, I work out and I am healthy. I feel blessed. Even so, it is hard somedays. I look down at my arms when working out and see the crinkly skin. My inner thighs are a horror - crepey. My tummy isn't as bad as many photos I have seen, but I have a nice "waist" the look being marred - even in clothes - by extra skin. My perky breasts are still fairly perky (shocking) but in some positions, I can't help but notice that they are becoming unfilled little sacks. The extra skin under …

I have thought about this a lot since being post op sleeve. While the sleeve has worked well for me (5-10 lbs from new goal), what is to say those band to sleeve revisions are not going to fail? Back when the band was very popular, it was deemed THE weight loss solution for fighting obesity. I have also adopted a new lifestyle of health and fitness. This question also hits close to home because I have seen my sister in law gain back all the lost weight since she was banded a few years back. she has been talking about a revision, and while i sing praises about the sleeve, i still wonder if it is right for her. Would sleeve surgery get the same bad perception as the band w…

All my life I have wanted to be fit, healthy and relatively good looking. 36 years on wanting it and not knowing how to get it or achieve it. Then I made it...I lost about 170 pounds, I wear a size 10-12 (my happy curvy size). So whats next? I have had this goal for so long, and then it became a reality. I spent last year working every inch of the sleeve and my body to get here and I did it!!! But now I dont know what is next? The world really is my oyster, but I am having a hard time figuring out what I want...does anyone else wonder where to now?

Ever notice how you can almost always tell the newbie and veteran patients apart based on their profile picture? It's not the size of the person in the picture that is the give away. It's that newbies (I know I did this) will have only a face shot while the vets have become a little more comfortable and show their whole body. Now far be it from me to say that we have achieved complete comfort with the way we look, but I think the ability for us to at least let others see a better overall of what we look like is a move in the right direction. So if you haven't done it yet, back that camera up and show us what the new you looks like.

I just wanted to get in a thread on the veterans forum before it gets inundated with threads by new people. Nothing against them, I haven't forgotten where I came from. Just saying...we need our own clubhouse once in a while. It's like a family....we all need each other, but sometimes we need some space too. Best of luck to all sleeve vets and rookies alike.

Veteran's, you asked for it, and here it is. A forum just for you! Enjoy! Sent from my iPad using VST

There is really no excuse for this. I got lazy, pure and simple. I have been hit and miss about taking my Vitamins and Calcium. I am regular with the B-12, but let the others go. I didn't think it would make such an impact, but it did. My labs came back and the surgeon sicced the nutritionist on me. I didn't talk to her yet, but I know what she is going to say. I'm back on a strict Vitamin regime today. I won't let this happen again. I don't suppose there is a question here other than wondering if any of you are sloughing off or had before. I just wanted to warn you that's its not okay. You can do real damage. Not only that ... I just connected the dots. I've been…