thegeek

I'll echo this. Check with your Dr first and see what your meal plan is... but by week 4 I really didn't have any restrictions and by week 6 I could eat pretty much anything I wanted (albeit in much smaller amounts).

That sounds great! It's nice to have the process move quickly. I have to give props to all those who stick with it for 6, 9 months, even a year or more to jump through the hoops in order to get insurance approval. I didn't have that kind of patience or perseverance. The sleeve is a great tool. I love mine. The first couple weeks post-op are a little rough (not bad, just rough), but it gets better quickly.

It's called the three-week stall, but it varies from person to person. I think I stalled from weeks 3-5, but I'm back to losing again. From what I hear you'll go through periods of time where you won't lose any weight, but it'll come back. Just stick with it, keep doing what you're supposed to be doing and the sleeve will take care of the rest!

Thats awesome! Congrats!

I just wanted to check in. I hit the "magical" 50lbs today! I'm about 2.5 months post-op and things are great. A couple of fun things to Celebrate as well. I haven't seen the 200s in a very, very long time. It was fun to see 299 on the scale for the first time in years! My brother brought me a few pairs of his jeans (from when he was a little bigger). They were smaller than anything I've worn in the last 10 years and they fit!!! Designer jeans in "my size" now!!! I'm wearing a pair right now. All those belts I've bought in stores over the last 10 years are starting to fit too. You know those belts, the ones you buy because you hope they'll fit you on their loosest setting, so you buy them and bring them home and they don't fit. Ya, those ones. They all fit now. I even got to punch a new hole in my favorite belt because it was the only way to be able to keep wearing it. I also sat down with the family at a restaurant booth the other day. Amazing feeling to be able to slide into the booth without having my stomach get in the way. Blood pressure is back in a good range (with 1 med instead of 2 meds together). 120/80 and it's been a long time since I've seen that too. I still struggle to get all my liquids in every day. I still struggle with wanting to eat bad stuff too - but the sleeve doesn't leave much room to "mess up". I'd do it all again in a heartbeat. Thanks to all here who have provided support. I enjoy being able to come here and read about other people's experiences and to be able to relate mine as well. You're all an incredible group of people.

Hi JanieL: I had my sleeve just a couple of days before you. I wouldn't say that I've had buyer's remorse (well, maybe the first day or two because of the pain). But I have definitely "missed" a few things. The kids wanted to go out for Ice Cream yesterday after a full day of running around town. I took them out, didn't get anything for myself, and was instantly in a bad mood. I've never been hungry, so it's difficult to say I'm really suffering. It's really just in my head. Still, even with the emotional struggles, physically things can't be better, and my emotions will be sure to tag along as things improve. I'm still a happy guy, just have to keep an eye on those mood swings! Good luck and keep at it.

Before my sleeve, I felt very much like you do now. I didn't want the drama, the weird looks, etc. That being said, I think it's a little much to expect to disappear for a couple of days and then come back and have no one be able to tell that something's happened. You'll be sore for a week or two, and you'll walk very "gingerly". You won't eat anything that's not liquid, and whatever that is, it will be in very small amounts. I only told a few people about my surgery pre-op. Obviously my wife, a co-worker, and a couple of siblings. I did this so that I could ask the siblings for help with "the kids" while I was healing, or at the hospital, etc. My co-worker needed to know because we often take clients out to lunch, etc. Other than that I kept it pretty quiet. Now that I'm 2.5mos post-sleeve, I'm a little more free with the information. A couple of other co-workers have asked how I've lost so much weight and the ones I can trust to keep it to themselves, I've let them in on the secret. I still have a few family members that don't know, and none of my neighbors know. My boss doesn't know, and I'm pretty happy with the situation. I guess what I'm trying to say is that you will probably want to tell those closest to you before surgery so that they can be in a position to help you out afterwards. But you don't need to shout it on the rooftops either. I think the further out from my sleeve date I get, the more willing I am to tell my story. Maybe you'll feel the same way too!

Thanks for this post! I appreciate posts like this so that I can see where I might possibly be 5 months post-op!

I have a ton of PVCs if I don't have the metropolol. Right now I'm at max dosage for that, but as the BP comes down then I'll start backing off that too. Hopefully at 1/2 the dosage I'll still get the benefits of heart regulation. fingers crossed!

I took a week off and was back at work after that. I have a cushy job, though. Sit in front of a computer most days. Sometimes I drive and visit clients. They told me I would be overnight as well... I didn't feel well enough that next day, so they let me stay another night. No questions asked. I was definitely ready to go home the next day. Good luck with your VSG!

I hopped on a plane 7 days post-op and it wasn't bad at all. Just make sure wherever you're going that you can get/bring the types of food that you're allowed to have. I flew for a work meeting and had to sneak out of dinner (to go to the grocery store for yogurt), and out of lunch (around the corner to a Soup shop). As long as you can do that, you should be okay. Everyone is different, so it'd be interesting to see if others feel if they were ready at 10 days out. Good luck!

I get a full feeling, usually goes from 0 to 80 pretty quick, but I can usually get one more bit in before the "done" signal goes off.

The dreaded stall! Darn you stall! I didn't lose much during wks 3 and 4... I'd lose a lb, go back up one, down one, up two, down two, and just stuck in the same old spot. It's your body's way of getting a handle on what's going on. Give it a week or two (usually) and you'll start losing weight again. Stick to your diet and nutritional guidelines from your doc. It'll come off.

Sounds pretty close to where I was 1wk post-op. I wasn't getting enough protein (the doc said not to worry about protein for a few weeks, just be sure to get some), and I definitely wasn't getting enough liquids (that's still a struggle). But 1week post-op I hopped on an airplane for a quick over-night trip for work. I was a little tired, and it was a little awkward when I had to "disappear" at dinner the night before to go to the grocery store and pickup some yogurt. Even more awkward when at the meeting the next day with customers and needing to "disappear" again to find some Soup (and someone to strain it too). I'm lucky enough that my co-worker knew about the surgery and handled things for me during those times. I came home and took it easy for a few more days before really getting back to work. (I'm a desk-jockey, so no heavy lifting, etc.). Hopefully now that you're in your 2nd week you're feeling much better!

This seems like a pretty common occurrence for me. I'm 5wks post-op (well, almost 6) and my body is still making new noises depending on what I eat or drink. I can't complain too much, though - they don't bother anyone else and the weight is coming off!

Ooooohhh... I remember that part. Not fun! I woke up scratching my stomach in my sleep and had pulled off one of the scabs. ;( The thing that helped me the most was to itch BETWEEN the incision sites. That actually helped out and I felt a lot better. It didn't last for too long, though - so you have something to look forward to!

The first week or two post-op I had a hard time getting all my liquids in. Dehydration is not fun... For me it was just a matter of keeping some sort of drink in front of me at all times no matter where I went. It was a little awkward at first lugging around a Water bottle to places where you usually don't see that kind of thing (church, sales meetings, neighbor's house, etc.) but that helped out. I'm about 5wks out now and am probably getting somewhere between 40 and 50oz/day. I'm still struggling to get to 64 too. Hopefully it will come with time.

That has to be super-frustrating! I've just finished a 3-4wk stall. It was a pain, but the weight is starting to come off again. I noticed for me I had gotten into some bad habits... (frozen yogurt drink at nights as a snack, or jolly ranchers). I stepped down the carbs a bit and made sure what I took in was Protein. Drink lots and stick to it. The weight will come off. Make sure you're getting enough protein and keep the carbs to a minimum!

I'm still trying to figure out the BP thing too. I was getting very light-headed and stopped the lisinopril. I still have the metropolol, though. At my 5wk follow-up I had lost ~40lb and my BP was 120/80. Hopefully as the weight drops off your BP will come down as well. But it is very possible that we'll require some amount of meds for the rest of our lives. Keep checking in with your doc and stay on top of that BP. Good luck!

Congrats on your surgery! I didn't have much of an appetite for a week after my surgery. After then it started slowly working its way up. Don't worry, you won't feel like this for the rest of your life! Good luck!

Excellent information. Thanks for posting this Maddie! I had my last Mountain Dew a week before surgery and haven't had soda (or caffeine) since! It's been a little rough, but as long as I have some crystal lite around, things are good. I appreciate the info.

I didn't have a band before... but this is the reason why I feel that I'll be successful. Hunger is not a driving force for me anymore. I still struggle with my eyes being bigger than my stomach, but that's okay because the extra food stays on the plate.

My last supper was Taco Bell. I was hoping for it to be lasagna, or lobster & crab, or something <much> better. I had Taco Bell for lunch the day I went to see my Dr. for the pre-op. I asked to change the schedule back a month due to some work constraints and they pushed it forward a week and said "You are officially on your liquid diet starting right now. Here, have some water". I felt "jipped" that whole week... after the surgery, though - I didn't care, and I don't miss it now either!

Talk with your Dr. and Hospital staff. I was told 1 day pre-op, but when 1 day was here, I didn't feel like I was quite ready to go home. I told that to the Dr. and she said "no worries, stay another day". I think this will be one of those things that you'll have to play by ear... just make sure they're willing to "work with you" when the time/day comes. Good luck!

So THAT's what that was!!! How quickly after eating too quickly does this happen? I've only had it happen once and it was horrible. I want to say it was a while after I had last ate. I thought the thing that set me off was a chewable bariatric Vitamin because the sliming started right after that. In any event, I'm glad I had some anti-nausea medication and took that... seemed to help. Hope it never happens again...