Penpen

My first stall started at the end of week 2. It lasted for almost 4 weeks but then I dropped 15 lbs. in a week and a half. Then another stall....and the story goes on and on....lol...I'm now almost 3 months out and am in my 3rd wicked stall. Ugh! But since pre op, I've lost 55 lbs. So, hang in there...it will come off!

My first stall started at the end of week 2. It lasted for almost 4 weeks but then I dropped 15 lbs. in a week and a half. Then another stall....and the story goes on and on....lol...I'm now almost 3 months out and am in my 3rd wicked stall. Ugh! But since pre op, I've lost 55 lbs. So, hang in there...it will come off!

Yes, I had this too. You have an internal incision that is about 2 inches long through your muscle. This is where they took the stapler in and out and your stomach out. They used some type of device that stretched in open while they were working on you. I actually had a dent right above my largest incision for about 5-6 weeks and the nurse practioner explained why. I actially had no pain there until around 3 weeks out. It would happen when I'd climb into the truck, sit the wrong way, bend, sleep. It would feel like it was burning and ripping. It freaked me out the first time I felt it so I called the doctor. They asked if I had been a little more active than usual and of course I had because I was starting to feel better. They said it was perfectly normal. It stopped hurting around 6 weeks and no more dent either.

Thank you. You definitely made me feel better. But I'm sure I will find something else to freak out and worry about. I'll probably be back in here asking another crazy question in a few days. Lol

I'm so glad to hear that. Nope, I'm not queasy. I've seen pictures of my insides twice. Once with gallbladder removal and another time when my stomach was scoped. If you don't mind sharing, I would really appreciate seeing them. I'll send you my email through the messenger. Thank you so much for comforting my fears and for sharing your pictures.

I think I know the answer to this but I'm so stinking nervous about my surgery that's coming up in a couple of weeks that anything and everything is running through my mind. After surgery, the staple line stays in place and your stomach grows around it, right? Do I need to worry about having leaks 3 years, 5 years, 10 years out? I don't want to have this done and then find out all is being held in place by the staples.

You are so right! Thank you for saying all of this. Sometimes we forget that we are worth the love and care that we deserve just like the rest of the family. Sometimes I feel so drained from taking care of everyone elses' needs and wants! Sometimes I feel cheated because not only do my needs not get met but I'm too tired to try to take care of myself...or maybe I stopped caring about myself along the way. So thank you for saying everything you said. We are just as important and as special as our family members are.

Dr. James Davidson....very serious ... but is one of the top surgeons in Dallas. I had surgery almost 3 weeks ago and he took great care of me. He's been listed as one of the top surgeons 19 years in a row in D Magazine. Here's his link: http://www.bscdallas.com/
Good luck!

Wow! Great question! I thought it was just me. Texasmom, I've had the same problem and it seems to come and go. But when it's here, it's not good! Also, my periods are really weird now. They come on time but it looks like old blood. It's so weird and nasty. Does anyone else have this problem? It's embarrassing to even mention but hey, this is a pretty personal conversation after all.

I'm now 3 months out and I want to encourage you all. My first 2 weeks after surgery, I lost only 10 lbs. Then I stalled for 3-4 weeks and thought that the surgery didn't work for me. I was so discouraged. But then my stall broke and over a week and a half I dropped 15 lbs. Then another stall for 2-4 weeks... I can't even remember how long the stall was now because I've had so many. Lol but I will tell you this, I lost 25 lbs during preop and now 3 months post op, I'm down a total of 68 lbs. It seemed to fall off super slow but in reality, it fell off at the speed of light. Mind you that I'm only 3 months post op but I only have 7 more pounds to go to meet my 6 month goal which was to lose 50% of my excess weight. I started at 280 lbs before I did the preop diet and am now down to 212 lbs. I'm 5'4". Yes, I know, I need to update my ticker. I've blogged all about my ups and downs and those sorry stalls. Today I updated my blog with a couple of pictures that were taken over the weekend. These pictures shocked me because I still felt absolutely huge and had no idea what I was actually looking like.
Hang in there! It will happen for you too. It's very normal to go through lots of stalls.

Hey Dooter! I'm now 7 months post op and I can eat anything and everything. I eat almonds, peanuts, and cashews almost on a daily basis and have never had anything get stuck. Sometimes it feels like it gets stuck going down my esophagus but that's just air bubbles and that always works itself out.
Also, my ticker has not been updated in a while so it does not reflect my true weight. I've now lost 94 lbs. and have 56 to go.

I wondered the same thing before surgery and asked a similar question. Here's the thread. It has pictures of someone's healed stomach. I hope this helps. http://www.verticalsleevetalk.com/topic/19292-stomach-closure/page__fromsearch__1

I wondered the same thing before surgery and asked a similar question. Here's the thread. It has pictures of someone's healed stomach. I hope this helps. http://www.verticalsleevetalk.com/topic/19292-stomach-closure/page__fromsearch__1

Hi! I, like you, have always eaten for every emotion under the sun. I'd eat when I was depressed, I'd eat when I was angry, I'd eat when i was happy, I'd eat because there was a celebration of some sort, I'd eat because someone else was eating (even when I'd just ate and was already full)....I'd eat all the time and it didn't matter the reason or the emotion. I was out if control. And what went into my mouth most of the time was high carb, low Protein. I was miserable and I worried about the same thing your worrying about.
It's been about 5.5 months since surgery. What's changed for me? Well, my appetite for one. I don't crave things the way I used to. In fact, most of the time I have to remind myself it's time to eat something. When I do crave something, even when I'm craving a huge plate of something. (mind hunger)..i'll take 2-4 bites and am usually full and satisfied. My full feels like it used to feel when I'd eat a plate full of food then go back for another plate full...and because of that feeling, my desire for food at that point goes south. Once I hit that point, and remind you that it doesn't take much, I get a feeling of disgust for whatever I'm eating and I stop. It's so hard to describe. Maybe just saying that even when my mind tells me I can eat huge amounts, my stomach reminds me quickly that I can't and I'm left with no desire to continue to eat. I don't have to tell my self to stop, my stomach tells me. Now that I'm 5+ months post op, my weight loss almost seems effortless. Before surgery, there was no such thing...everything that had to do with food, control, and weight loss took an over abundance of control which I could not come up with on my own. For some reason, the sleeve gives you the ability to control without feeling overwhelmed and like a failure. Its so hard to describe. I just posted in my blog yesterday about a lot of the reasons I love my sleeve and some ways my sleeve has been life changing. You are more than welcome to read it. My blog is down below in my signature.
I hope this helps. Everything about eating and your relationship with food will change after surgery. It's just about impossible to image what it will be like until you've got your sleeve. I would do it all over again in a heartbeat if needed. This was one of the best things I've ever done for myself.

I know I'm a little late on this conversation but I thought it would be worth while to mention that before I had surgery, I had a very similar question. Tiffykens replied and posted pictures of her sleeved stomach....yes, her stomach. It was awesome to see and to know that you're stomach completely heals up and over those staples so you don't have to worry about future leaks and such. Here is the link:
http://www.verticalsleevetalk.com/topic/19292-stomach-closure/page__fromsearch__1

I don't think that's too ambitious. I know that everyone is different but with the sleeve, that kind of weight loss should be expected. When I was at my highest weight of 280 lbs. right before surgery, my excess weight was 150 lbs. I'm now just a little over 5 months post op and have already lost 83 lbs. I can't guarantee it but I would almost say for sure that once I'm one year post op, I will have lost 100% of my excess weight because I'm already more than half way to goal. Just saying!

Hi there! You will be okay. I did have some pain and at one point, some nausea and once vomited but it was because my meds had lapsed. I wrote all about my stay in the hospital on my blog if you'd like to read about it. Here's the link: http://sliceofhealthyplease.blogspot.com/2011/07/surgery-and-hospital-stay-part-1.html
Hang in there! I remember being in total fear of the unknown. You will make it through this and come out of it on a much brighter side. The beginning is hard but tolerable. Keep smiling and know that we are all here cheering you on....AND that if I could get through it, so can you! And I'm a major scardy-cat!

I had surgery June 23, 2011 and have lost 83 lbs. so far. :woot:

I'm a little over 5 months out and this is what I take. It took me a while to build up to all of it but probably by 1.5-2 months out, I was taking most of this.
About 7 a.m.:
1x Spring Valley High-Potency D-3 Vitamin, 1000 IU (softgels found at Walmart)
2x Bariatric Advantage sugar-free Calcium Citrate Chewy Bites (Lemon Flavored) (They taste like Starburst.) (ordered online)
Note: Calcium should be taken with D Vitamin to help it absorb.
About 3-4 hours later:
1x Centrum Multivitamin chewables (orange flavored, found at Walmart)
1x Spring Valley Super Potency Biotin (5,000 mcg) (capsules) (found at Walmart)
1x Nature's Bounty sublingual B-12 (2,500 mcg) (natural cherry) (found at Costco)
1x Celebrate Bariatric supplements Iron + C (30 mg chewable) (grape) (ordered online)
1x Nature Made Super B-Complex with Vitamin C & Folic Acid (tablets) (can't remember if we got it at costco or Walmart)
1x Vitamin C chewable (I'm out right now so I can't give you the details on it. I will have it again tomorrow if anyone is interested in the details.)
Note: Iron should be taken with Vitamin C to help it absorb.
Note: Iron and calcium chews should NOT be taken at the same time. This will cause poor absorption of the calcium or the opposite...I can't remember which one.
About 3-4 hours later:
1x Centrum Multivitamin Chewables (orange flavored, found at Walmart)
Right before bed:
2x Bariatric Advantage sugar-free calcium citrate Chewy Bites (Lemon Flavored) (They taste like Starburst.) (ordered online)
1x generic brand of Pepsid AC Complete for stomach acid (found at Walmart and Sam's)
I had my 3 month post op blood work done and at the time I wasn't taking the iron supplement, D-3, Biotin, or the B-complex. I had perfect readings and the nurse practitioner told me to keep doing what I was doing. My surgeon told me to go ahead and add D-3 and iron anyways. So I did. I also added Biotin, B-complex, and Vitamin C because it helps with hair growth.
I hope this helps.

I love your picture....you look like your up to something! It has attitude! Love it!

I was always cold ...my fat layers NEVER insulated at all! They were just plain old fat layers!
I love my sleeve! I do still have the head hunger but it doesn't take much to satisfy when something evil :devil_smile: is calling my name. Oh and my mind tells me ( :blah:) sometimes that when we go out to eat that I am hungry enough to eat a big girl plate and my emotions make me want to throw a big fit if I don't get to order my own plate instead of sharing like a child. My hubby knows just to let me order my plate and waste our precious hard earned dollar(s) so he doesn't have to listen to me have a melt down. Then....as if... I didn't know I had the sleeve surgery, my brain turns back on after about 2 or 3 bites and says...OH MY GOSH, there's no way I can eat any more of this. I mean really, I've wasted some money on this problem a couple of times since surgery. :frusty: What a great problem to have!!!! Did I say I love my sleeve?
And most of the time, I don't feel like that. Then we share and save lots of money AND I'm satisfied because for the most part, most of the time, I'm not hungry and I eat because I have to. Oh yeah, that's a huge problem too...you know, not being hungry most of the time.
So yeah, you have problems when you have the sleeve.....BUT I love my problems!

I was always cold ...my fat layers NEVER insulated at all! They were just plain old fat layers!
I love my sleeve! I do still have the head hunger but it doesn't take much to satisfy when something evil :devil_smile: is calling my name. Oh and my mind tells me ( :blah:) sometimes that when we go out to eat that I am hungry enough to eat a big girl plate and my emotions make me want to throw a big fit if I don't get to order my own plate instead of sharing like a child. My hubby knows just to let me order my plate and waste our precious hard earned dollar(s) so he doesn't have to listen to me have a melt down. Then....as if... I didn't know I had the sleeve surgery, my brain turns back on after about 2 or 3 bites and says...OH MY GOSH, there's no way I can eat any more of this. I mean really, I've wasted some money on this problem a couple of times since surgery. :frusty: What a great problem to have!!!! Did I say I love my sleeve?
And most of the time, I don't feel like that. Then we share and save lots of money AND I'm satisfied because for the most part, most of the time, I'm not hungry and I eat because I have to. Oh yeah, that's a huge problem too...you know, not being hungry most of the time.
So yeah, you have problems when you have the sleeve.....BUT I love my problems!

Thank you all!!! Yes, UHC is awesome!!! One of the ladies at the doc's office told me before I went through the approval process that UHC was the easiest insurance company to deal with. I sure do believe it!

I know how you feel. I just blogged about getting back on track again. For me, I stopped writing everything down that I was taking in about a month or so ago. I've noticed that I've been eating more carbs but wasn't sure if I was over doing it. I really didn't think I was. Also, I was sort of keeping track of my Protein and Water in my head. Not a good idea! I was feeling as if I was out of control of my weight loss and it just felt chaotic! I haven't gained and am actually still losing but very slowly. So, I decided yesterday that today would be a new day and I set some new goals. One was to start recording my Protein, carbs, and calories for everything and also for my Water intake.

So, I did start recording everything this morning and had an "Aha" moment first thing. I took Tiffikins advice and even wrote down the calories and carbs from my Vitamins and supplements. Before Breakfast this is what I was planning on having:

2 chewable Calcium citrates
8 oz. regular coffee
1 Tbsp. sugar
2 tsp. coffee Mate Creamer

Here's the totals so far: 0 protein / 26 carbs / 128 calories

What?????

As I was blogging this in disbelief, my coffee sit about a foot away from me. Ewww, I wanted it so bad but just couldn't after seeing those numbers. That's almost my limit for carbs for one day AND no protein.

My suggestion is that when you're getting ready to put something into your mouth, write those numbers down. It will make you really think about whether not you really want to consume it. Just my 2 cents!

starting weight: 280
weight lost during 3.5 week pre-op diet: 25 lbs.
weight on day of surgery: 255
1st two weeks post-op I lost: 10 lbs.
Then I stalled for almost 4 weeks.
When I started losing again, I lost another 15 lbs. in 1.5 weeks.
Then I stalled again for 2-3 weeks.
Then I dropped 5 lbs.
That was back around 8/26. I know I'm losing inches because my clothes are fitting different but the scale doesn't like me at all. I'm not horribly upset about it because my 3 month goal was 35% of my excess weight which would have been 52.5 lbs. I still have about 2 weeks before I hit 3 months and I've already lost 55 lbs.
Tiff, I've printed out what you said you're doing and I'm going to try to do that. I had been writing everything down but then stopped about a month or so ago. I'm very careful about what goes into my mouth but I couldn't say exactly how much Protein, carbs, and calories I'm taking in and I feel extremely guilty for that. I'm afraid that a lot of days, I'm barely getting 600 calories because I'm just hardly ever hungry. My body probably thinks I'm starving.