Gastric Sleeve Surgery Forums

So...I know everyone is enjoying their new lifestyles and new bodies, but I just wanted to check with you all to see how you are doing. Is there anything that you have experienced that you did not see coming? Or something that you expected, but has not happened yet? I miss you guys & gals!!

Had my sleeve 10/18/2011, revising from failed lapband...lost great month 1: 20 pounds, and now stalled for the last month...anyone else?

Typically I am better at planning and organizing logistics but since my surgery, it feels like my brain has gone out the window most days. So I am asking the VST hive mind for help here. In about two weeks I will be returning to work. For some reason I am uncharacteristically nervous about this, especially with regards to planning my food. I will just be about ready to transition to a normal diet per my surgeon's plan, which I know doesn't exactly mean go back to what I was eating before. I have a lot of questions: how much should I bring along? What should I expect to happen? What should I keep for emergencies? Here is some background: I have a "desk job" but I am ne…

It has been 4 months and I've lost 81 lbs. Does this seem too slow in comparison to others? I've seen others with much higher numbers than me and beginning to wonder what is wrong with me!

growl. i'm trying to stuff my new sleeve. i am having a fit limiting myself to 6 oz of food per day. the new 3d week diet adds cottage cheese (i hate it but will eat the whole box) yoghurt (i bought plain and hate that, too, but will eat the whole box) canned veggies and egg. I do not know when I have had enough. I put the food in a dish and i put the boxes and stuff away and I still want more. I'm not finished. And right now, I am salivating thinking about eating lunch. Now, if someone could tell me how to change this 'habit' it would help a good deal. But if no one can, then what the heck is the use of the sleeve???? I was ok on the liquid only and made it thr…

I was being a good girl and following the "no Water 30 minutes before or after" eating...but I would get hungry during that time period, and it would not stop until my 30 minutes were up and I had water. Water helps me get and stay full. I did what research I could to determine if water would be harmful, but all I could find is that it essentially just pushes food through more quickly, thus enabling you to eat more. True? I now incorporate fluids around (not with) meals and I am doing a LOT better with fullness. Is this a huge no-no? Is it true water + food can "stretch out your sleeve"? (I doubt this highly, but I've heard it, and it's the last thing I want to do)…

Does anyone belong to a hiking or walking club in the SoCal area? I really need to get my butt in gear LOL!

Hi there. I will be having the sleeve in April 2012. I am very excited and appreciative of all I have learned on this forum. Anyone out there ever have liposuction? I had it in 2002 when I was just "overweight." It was great and I don't regret having it. But since then I have steadily gained 50lbs and now have intra-abdominal fat. I assume this is because there was no where else to gain the weight because the "outer" fat in my abdominal and flank areas had been removed. Does previous liposuction affect the sleeve surgery? And what about excess intra-abdominal fat? Thanks for any advice/thoughts you can offer. I won't be seeing my surgeon until after the new …

Nice~! HI yas I will be sleeved on Dec6th in Erie PA! Pray for successful surgery? SURE! Pray for good weather! PLEASE! nice to be here!

I have my followup with my doc on Wednesday at 9:45am. There's a support group at 6:30 that same night. He's about 30 minutes from me. Would you go in the morning for followup and go back in the evening for support? I feel like I'm ok but I enjoyed the last support group and learned stuff. I just don't like driving that much at night - it's in a really traffic-y area. I get weighed Wednesday morning. Ugh. I'm trying to repeat that whatever I've lost, I will be happy about. I know it's the best my body can do. I think I'm worried because everyone keeps saying how much they can see that I've lost and I'm scared it won't be "enough" no matter how much it is. So I'm tr…

Does the sleeve REALLY help with hunger because of the hormone thing?

My wife had the RNY 4 years ago. She was extremely successful with it. My weight was manageable and I was in decent shape. My wife progressed through her post op diet and her solids was always to much for her to eat. Well she would instinctively put her remaining food on my plate to eat. I would eat it. So I was eating nearly two meals at a time. I was raised not to waste food and a happy plate is a clean plate. So I was eating 1 1/2 steaks and 1 1/2 potatoes at dinner, or an extra 4 - 7 wings, sandwiches, chicken, the list goes on. Well needless to say, 4 years later I need WLS. I was sleeved on 12/27/11. Now of course I do not blame my entire weight gain on m…

Oh Boy, I must admit I'm a bit afraid to get on the scale this week. It seems that this entire week was filled with friends and relatives either going out to eat, or coming over to my house with a ton of cookies and candy. Just one bite of this and that, a chocolate whatever, some homemade pasta and a nibble or two. No time to exercise. Be afraid, be very afraid. I feel as if I've gained alot of weight, but I'm hoping its all in my head. (and not on my hips) Wish me luck as I approach the scale.

Well here we are the last day of 2011. December has been challenging for me. I weighed in at 201 today, which is down 2 pounds from last week. That makes my total loss for the month 9 pounds. I would've liked to have done better but that's water under the bridge. How did everyone else do this week / month? HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

2012 is finally here! I know for me 2011 was an AMAZING year of ups and downs but I am so excited about the coming year.....I plan on participating in my first 5k with my Grandpa in October, Can't wait to go buy a bathing suit this summer, I am taking my little sister to Sea World for her birthday and very excited not to get tired walking around in the HOT summer sun!! I hope everyone had a great New Years weekend I kicked mine off on Friday with some friends from high school that were in town....Dancing until 3 AM and it felt GREAT!! Then on Saturday had a low key night in with some more friends & yes I had my first sip of alcohol since my surgery at Midnight I had s…

I notice that this thread has been out of commish, but I know that's not because there aren't plenty of recovering people getting WLS. Think food addiction is going to go away more quietly than alcohol, drugs, sex, gambling or smoking? Don't kid yourself. Addicts of the eating variety, who don't work a program for overcoming food as a medication, shouldn't count on a little nip/tuck to quiet the rage of issues hiding behind that midnight binge. My name is Ricky and I am a food addict.

I'm really freaking out about leaks & complications. I've read a couple of stories about a few ppl who have had complications that have lasted months with multiple surgeries.

Four days ago was my 10 month surgiversary. I have been at 80 lbs lost for about four months now. I am wondering is this it for me, or will I all of a sudden drop like crazy soon. I will admit I snack like there is no tomorrow. Only if I can get this under control and push that treadmill harder I can win at this. I have days where I eat healthy and days where I want nothing but junk or snack foods. I saw my doctor this past Monday and he says I am doing great as far as weight loss. But my mind says girl get it together; its not over yet. I'm also scheduled to see the plastic surgeon on Jan. 3rd. I know this is early, but I like to know where I stand as far as the proced…

i had my surgery on November 1. I was so happy and excited to get through recovery and begin to walk, eat healthy and get back to work. I just knew all would be fine.....until I had my drain removed from my belly on day 9. We live 3.5 hours from the doctor so it is a huge undertaking plus it is starting to snow in our part of the us (near Reno Nevada ). We went it and my stomach had some pain and I thought it was because of the drain. That was November 11. We stayed the night and did some Christmas shopping, a lot of walking and the next day I felt super tired and my tummy hurt more. I thought it was because I was in and out of the car, more walking than in the pri…

I told my pcp today that I was planning to get the sleeve....I was so apprehensive about doing it at first because I have talked with her before about WLS in the past and she was against it....but when I told her today her face lit up and she said she thought the sleeve would be perfect for me. She's been my doctor for over 15 years so she knows how much I have been struggling with weight loss. I didn't tell her that I was having it in Mexico, I will probably tell her that part afterwards. I'm just so happy that she was supportive and agreed to do my pre-op labwork. Whew, I feel much better about my decision.

I have been attending this group for several months & have found it to be a great group. :thumbup1: If you live in the Puget Sound area of Washington, we'd love for you to come join us. (Our regular facilitator is on vacation this week, so I am leading the group. Normally, our conversations go off in many different tangents, but our main topic will be surviving the 4th of July BBQ's and making healthy choices.) YOU ARE INVITED! Monthly Support Group for patients interested in a positive, safe environment to discuss issues, ask questions, share stories, and Celebrate victories with weight loss surgery (all types welcome). Whether you are a current p…

I am just curious if anyone else had their surgery through the belly button? My doctor told me that he used a new tool called the Spider to do my surgery (see the link below). I am about 2 months out now and my scar is barely visible. http://www.transenterix.com/spider-surgical-system.php

I have hit a major stall in weight loss this week. I am 18 days post op and have lost a total 17 since surgery. Until this week. I haven't lost anything since day 14 and I am getting so frustrated. Please tell me this is normal. I am freaking out. What helps get through the stalls?

Any self pay revisions out there? How much did you pay? Boy I"m just full of questions. I'm seriously considering this.

Ok, I'm scratching my head on this one. A way I have found recently to combat these long stalls and the weight loss that has slowed dramatically in the past months, I have gone to doing all liquid diet (mostly just broth, crystal light and sometimes diet pepsi wild cherry). It's been working to break the stall. Please no lectures that doesn't support long term healthy eating/ maintenance. I have a long history of sabatoging myself when I do really well on weight loss only to have it come to a grinding halt short of my final goal and puts me into a vicious cycle of lose/ gain/ lose/ gain. Yes, I am seeing a therapist and have been since before surgery. I am getting …

Hi All, I finally got the go ahead to do "mushies" yeh! But for the last few days I have had a lump in my throat. If I drink it will go away for a while. It is not all day and not just when I eat. I did have the band removed and a hiatal hernia repair and of course the sleeve done. Any suggestions? I can't see my Doc till next week. and the nutrionist did not have much to say about it.

I just got sleeved. Please help me get off mobile mode. I have so so much to say. But its hard on this mode.

Here is a link that can help you set your target goal weight. http://www.halls.md/ideal-weight/body.htm This site also has a link about the Metropolitan Life Insurance weight tables, and why that reference may not be the appropriate weight target for individuals. I had never seen the study / charts it references. Interesting stuff - but I happen to like statistics. I am 11 pounds away from my original target, and am trying to decide where I want to stop - so I am revisiting this whole topic again.

Hi All, I think my Doc has scared me into thinking I can get a leak pretty easy. He says this is the dangerous time. But I think he is talking about the stretching of the "little" belly. I had a hiatal hernia repair at the same time of the removal of the band and of course the sleeve. Am I just nuts?

Hi All, Thanks for all your help in the past. I am now on day 15 and no mushies yet? I see the Nutritionist tomorrow. If I eat some things I do get a little nausea? Is this normal? Looking forward to day of being normal with my eathing. Pattie

How are you doing? What was your hospital experience? Do you have any tijps to pass along? My surgery is Dec. 26th in Buffalo NY. I can't wait to join the losers bench this month but I have to admit I am getting a little more nervous as the date gets closer. Tell me all about it. Thanks Lisa

Ok, I feel dumb but I know there are posts in this forum but when I click it says there are no posts. If I try to click on one of the direct posts out to the right side it says I don't have permission to view it. Anyone else having this problem?

I was in a terrible stall for nearly 4 weeks. It was so hard to see almost the exact same weight every day, so I stopped weighing myself every day cuz it was driving me crazy. Today I weighed and lost 3 pounds! YAY!

Hi all. It's a very Merry Christmas Eve! What a wonderful time of year. I weighed in at 203 today for a loss of 2 pounds. This sleeve is the best thing I've done for myself in a long time. I'm loving my life and actually excited about getting clothes for Christmas. How is everyone else doing this week?

i just have to share something that I think only fellow sleevers will "get". My hubby and I were out of town yesterday, and while we always pack a to-go care package with Protein drinks, cheese and usually rolled turkey slices, it was cold outside and we wanted to get out of the truck. We stopped and went into McDonalds. Mind you it has been probably close to a year since I was in one as the closest to me is 1.5 hours away. Anyway, asi gazed at the menu, honestly NOTHING sounded good. So the lady in front of me ordered fries and a chicken snack wrap. I figured good chic would be the chicken snack wrap with no sauce. Well if any of you have had one-ugh. I opene…

Hello Sleevers, I finished my Kaiser Options program last week (12/19/11). Today (12/28), I received a call from Fountain Valley Hospital. They said that they got the referral and have everything ready to go, that I must register online, which I did and wait for a call to schedule for a class with them. I am so excited! I hope they call me to schedule really soon. I drove over to visit the hospital today, just to see and get a feeling about the place. Of course, its nothing like a kaiser facility. I expected a huge multi level hospital, as I am use to with Kaiser, but I am yet to meet with the surgeon and see how that goes. can any of you share your experience if you have…

There were two, but I think everyone was moving towards one where everyone was talking about names. I don't see either forum now? In the section by year there is a Jan. 2012 group but nothing is in it.

Hello Friends, I am Angela the new assistant moderator a Military wife and Retiree. I would like to know when did you decide to get sleeved? What was your decision making point, and what has been the most challenging part of the process? In my case I decided to get sleeved after I couldn't lose the weight with diet and exercise alone. After I retired, I gained over 30 lbs and no diet or starvation method could take off more than 20 lbs. On my 45th birthday I said no more by the time I reach 46 years old I will not weigh 242lbs this is unhealthy and it's time to lost this weight for good. I started noticing commercials for the lapband and learned all about the the …

Hi guys, looking to start talking more about the upcoming surgery. As I mentioned in the december sleevers thread in pre-op, or I think I did anyway I am approved and will get my date tomorrow when the person who does scheduling is back in the office. I am hoping for 12/21 or 12/22. I wonder if we could share some basics about ourselves, apart from our major shared topic of vsg? :) My name is Julie, I am 38, mom of 4 kids, I work in high tech from my home most of the time, and travel fairly regularly, though it is quiet now and probably will be through the holiday. My hobbies include knitting and crochet, and for many years I made glass beads, but when I had li…

I'm a bandster with a slip and I'm considering the sleeve. Are there any old sleevers out there? I know the procedure itself isn't much more than 5 or 6 year old, but where are those people? How did you make the decision to go to a sleeve, not knowing what it's like in 15 or 30 years? I'll point out the obvious....I basically went with the band not knowing what it's like in 15 or 30 years (cause those people don't exist, either), but I did it under the guise of being 'reversible.' Of course, now I've come to find out that the band can do all sorts of damage and has a massive failure rate. How do you know that the sleeve isn't going to stretch and you won't gain e…

Hey yall! I am looking for a buddy in the area close to me. Also, I have been trying to join some groups and I havent been able to. Any idea why this isnt working? Said something about the security key not being valid?? Thank you!

I'm just beginning to explore the possibility of having VSL. The research I've read on-line says one can reasonably expect to lose up to 50-70% of their "overage" in the first year. For me, that would be roughly 70 lbs (which would DELIGHT me!). Are your results meeting your expectations, seriously? I would really be happy just to get to 180lbs (down from (260 lbs). I don't have to weight 160 lbs.... does that sound reasonable? Achievable?

On Monday Jan 2nd I will have my first initial consult with my surgeon to start my journey. My appt is with Dr. Troy Glenbot of Winchester baratric center in Winchester Va. I would love to find someone who has dealt w Dr. Glenbot( or his associate Dr. weidower) or who is going thoroughly there process there now! I currently weight 393lbs my ideal body weight is supposed to be about 130-140 but ive been heavy for so long I just can't picture myself that small. As of right now I have a goal for myself of 150-175 so we shall see what the doc says

I'm scared to death of any surgery. I have a severe fear of dying in surgery much more than the normal nervousness and anxiety. I still can't believe I had the lapband put in. I'm terrified about having an organ cut away but, I'm fed up (ha, ha) with the band. Not only because I've gained almost all of the weight back but, also because I don't want to spend the rest of my life throwing up on a daily basis and there are so many foods I can't eat. I'd like to hear some of the worse case scenerios and hopefully, how people have recovered.

I realize everyone is diffierent but, generally speaking is the weightloss rate the same for someone going from band to sleeve than someone who's only had a sleeve?

Help!! I have hit the dreaded third week stall & really haven't lost any weight in the last 10 days! At first I didn't think it wads big deal, but now it has lasted so long I am starting to get frustrated... Any suggestions? I am almost at my protein goal daily, but it's hard when I am never hungry, ya know?.! G

Has anyone considered or is in therapy for weightloss/body image issues??? I know people do not like talking about therapy and please dont take it that I am snooping into your life....the question that has been on my mind for a while....mainly because I'm planning to have revision surgery in June and wondering would it be benefitial for me because I've been overweight since age 8, and since having the lapband for the last 7 years has failed me... I guess I'm just afraid of failure again and want to help myself as much as I can...

Okay so we have finally made it through the two HUGE eating holidays of the year!! Why do they have to be back to back??? Anyways I would love to here how everyone did managing their sleeves through the holidays?? Maybe even some recipes that you have modified to work for your sleeve?? I will start off by saying my main focus through the holidays has still been on getting all of my protien. I have finally started getting my hair loss under control and I don't want to back slide now. Even though I have super thick hair I can definitely tell a difference in the thickness!! As far as Thanksgiving and Christmas Dinners go though I am pretty picky....I don't eat pork becaus…

Hey Everyone my name is Kayla I am 22 years old I live in Central Florida about an hour south of Orlando! I am currently in College for Nursing I have 2 years left I was one of the crazy kids that went right after High School and jumped into a car payment and Credit Cards! But I am on track to a rewarding career!! I am the oldest of 7 children the two most recent additions to our family are my 3 year old sister Lucy she was born 3 days before my 19th birthday and my sister Sean Renee she turned 1 back in August those two are my WHOLE World!!! I have a wonderful support system in both my Family and Friends they are all ABSOLUTELY AMAZING!!! I was sleeved 4 months ago on Au…

Just curious, do any of you former bandsters ever experience pain where your port used to be? I have just recently started experiencing pain similar to that of what I used to feel from my port, except it is no longer there. This seems pretty weird to me. I am thinking maybe it is scar tissue or something?