mnbsleeve

You know, for me it was definitely quantity. I never really liked "junk food" though certainly high caloric food. But even when I was making healthy choices, I ate for three!!!! LOL Especially at my age. I was eating as much as my teen aged son!!! Also, I tended to skip meals alot --i.e., not eat all day -- then really eat a lot, very, very fast at night, often a few hours before bedtime. This surgery has really forced me to change all that. I have to eat throughout the day. And because it's not much, I seem to be able to just have those few bites I need to fuel my body. One thing I do notice though is the amount of food people eat!!! It blows my mind!!! and of course, I am so very clear that I was one of those people!!! :-) But it's just weird now to really see the quantities!!! LOL

You know, for me it was definitely quantity. I never really liked "junk food" though certainly high caloric food. But even when I was making healthy choices, I ate for three!!!! LOL Especially at my age. I was eating as much as my teen aged son!!! Also, I tended to skip meals alot --i.e., not eat all day -- then really eat a lot, very, very fast at night, often a few hours before bedtime. This surgery has really forced me to change all that. I have to eat throughout the day. And because it's not much, I seem to be able to just have those few bites I need to fuel my body. One thing I do notice though is the amount of food people eat!!! It blows my mind!!! and of course, I am so very clear that I was one of those people!!! :-) But it's just weird now to really see the quantities!!! LOL

I was really fortunate that my dermatologist had a band put in and she said to me that if she had to do over she would no way do the band and that she would consider the sleeve. At that point I didn't know what a "gastric sleeve" was. Thanks to her I looked into it. I think you guys are right about how it's being marketed as such a great thing. Given all the "conversions" as well as failure rate, I find it hard to believe it's still being performed. If you think about it, insurance companies are so hypocritical always touting procedures that supposedly have emperical support and they won't pay for those that "don't have the research." How interesting that there's all this research on how crappy the band is but they push it and won't pay for something like the sleeve!!! It makes me angry so many of us have had to self pay because of it. I am among the fortunate - and I don't take it for granted -- that I was able to swing it. But I'm angry that those that can't pay out of pocket are getting screwed - either because the band gets pushed on them or because they have to forego the procedure all together!! Hey sorry about the rant guys!!!! :-)

Yes, the hemlich is done to dislodge food from throat the above the epiglottis which would be blocking both the airway and the esophagus. The action forces air from the lungs forcing the obstruction out the mouth, it has nothing to do with the stomach.
The only issue would be if the person has not healed well enough and you were to damage the stomach or the incisions. After a few months it would not make any difference as they should be healed enough to survive this.

Thank you for posting this! I have been the same weight for the last week and I am 28 days out today. AND, I went and visited my Mom this week and she said the exact same thing to me about doing this all for 11 measely pounds!!!!!!!!!! My reply.. OH HELL NO! THERE IS NO WAY I AM STOPPING AT 11 MEASELY POUNDS!! We laughed!
We need to sit back, do what we are supposed to do, and let the sleeve do its part too! I have to keep telling myself that I didnt get fat overnight and it isnt going to come off overnight either! (it sounds good!)
Thanks again!

Love your post!!! Talk about a glass half full!!! You go girl!!! Enjoy your success!!!!

Yep, super common. It happens to most of us. Your body needs time to adjust. Relax, because you WILL lose the weight. I never worried about my stalls until just recently when I went through a 6 week period of only a pound or so lost. I'm at a normal BMI and I wondered if my body was just done. I still want to lose about 5-10 lbs. Then, this morning, low and behold, the scale started moving again. Let your body have the time it needs to readjust to your new weight and then you'll see the pounds come off. It's like stepping down stairs: plateau, step, plateau, step.

Never in my life did I ever think I'd be struggling with the awesome task of shedding 'those last 10 lbs'...but that is exactly what I'm dealing with...and its a wonderful thing to stress over!!!!

I personally don't think you are jumping the gun. I am a nurse in a clinic and I have seen about 10 people get the band in the last 4 years and NOT ONE of them are happy with or have lost more than 30lbs. 30lbs!!!!! This sleeve is the best thing I ever did for myself personally. I am less than 10lbs from goal- I have no side effects, I didnt go bald, I have zero loose skin, and I am in a size 10 for the first time since I was 8 years old.

Everyone is different with their weight loss. Typically people that have more weight to lose will lose a considerable amount more in the first 6-12 months post op. I find that I am a slow loser and I do exercise 4-5 times a week. I lost about 25 lbs in the first month post op and then the weight loss slowed down and I started losing 3-5 lbs a month. I sometimes got upset seeing everyone else that was losing 60 lbs in 3 months and wasn't exercising and it took me about 7 months to lose 60 lbs and I was working my tail off in the gym. I have learned that I cannot compare myself to anyone else. What is most important is that I feel amazing and healthier than I ever have. I used to weigh in every single day where as now I may weight in once a week. It doesn't matter what the scale says as long as I feel good. If I keep up with my workout routine as I have been, I know I will hit goal. Even if it takes me 2 years to get there :-)

Congratulations Shell!!!!! What a great feeling isn't it!!!!! Keep up the good work!

Friends-
Today, I Celebrate one of my biggest moments of bravery. I Celebrate agreeing to be wheeled into surgery despite a healthy dose of fear of both complications and the unknown. I had no idea how I'd cope in life without the crutch of food and failure. I wasn't excited about surgery and possibilities. I was simply scared and resolved. Now, I live a life I truly wasn't sure I'd ever get to enjoy. Life is good. So good.
I have been incredibly blessed on this journey. My approval process was relatively painless. It only involved four months of supervised diet. I didn't even have to do a liquid diet leading up to surgery. My only real complication was a very minor infection on one of my incisions. A round of antibiotics and I was fine.
My biggest memories of life following surgery were trying to figure out how to live without food as a focus and exhaustion. I wasn't hungry but still felt a need to eat but couldn't. I worked hard in therapy to be ready for this yet I wasn't. On top of that, I remember being absolutely exhausted until week 5. My other biggest memory is when I lost about 50 lbs. and realized that I no longer hurt. I had been overweight so long that I simply accepted pain as a part of life. To wake up one day and comprehend than general life no longer hurt left me giddy.
Since surgery, I have dropped 112 pounds, 12 inches (literally a foot!) off my waist, and 6 dress sizes (from 24/26 to 12/14). I have found a passion for running that culminated in running a half-marathon in January. I found the confidence to apply for a dream job that came with a crazy raise and got the job! I've found pride in myself and my appearance. I've become more than what I eat and how I look.
I haven't been the most well-behaved sleever. I feel I should share that in the interest of honesty. When I got the crazy, awesome promotion I started making some poor choices. I have yet to gain weight but I am in the world's longest stall due to poor food choices and a lack of focus on diet. I haven't lost a pound since December. I recognize that I haven't lost the last thirty pounds because of my less than ideal food choices but I am okay with this for now. I know that I will soon be ready to lose the last thirty and I will focus and finish what I started. My goal is to be at or under 175 by 18 months. I feel this is very doable. However, I recognize that this is my journey and I will finish it when it is right for me. Right now, I am enjoying the ride and life in general.
I would like to take a moment to thank all of you for your constant support, opinions and advice. I've found this forum and the people it consists of a lifeline on more than one occasion. Bless you all!
Of course, a surgiversary post isn't complete without photos!


PS- I swear I am not a big drinker... it just happens that pics normally occur when I'm drinking.

mnb sleeve, YES! my tastes have changed so much too! i made my menu for the first few weeks after surgery and it has served for nothing, because all the sweet fruit smoothies just are way to sweet for me! that and the cream Soups that i liked before arent my favorite now.. i really have to force myself because i dont have much of an appetite at all, but im assuming that will change with time! I cant wait to be able to say im that much lighter! Congratulations on your progress and thank you for the kind words!

Mika, I just wanted to clarify that I did drink Protein Drinks, NOT just Water or fluids, for six weeks.

Mika! You need to check with your surgeon! Everyone is different, MDs have their patients on different regimens. I was not cleared for mushies till week 6! I know others started sooner... but probably the safest thing to do is check in with your MD and his/her plan for you. Congratulations on your progress. It's so great that you are doing so well and feeling good!!! It gets better and better!!!! :-)

WOW- Thin...so glad you shared that. We need more people to share truths especially when we can learn from their mistakes. Praying you get back on track soon!

Coop ~ We all have time where we present our exteriors as confident, but inside, we're not. I call it my prasod! I'm learning to just be me and that I'm okay with who I am. It's wonder land for me. LOL

I've been looking for this one at IKEA!

Congratulations!!! This has been an amazing journey! Looking foward to reading about your progress!!!!

Pic update with progress! no weight loss lately... but the inches are are coming off-- I have been working out a lot! Next month Florida! and I WILL post bathing suit pics :-)  

Wow!!! What a transformation! You look GREAT. You looked beautiful before too and now you are just beaming! Congratulations!!!!

So, I've always had a very active social.. mainly because I'm a vocalist and run in the music/arts circles.. Anyway, friday night I went to a new karaoke spot to hang out for a bit...So, I sang a song and proceeded to go hang out around the bar area w/ the DJ and his wife... This guy walks up and introduces himself and kind just lingers... I had this look on my face like.. ahhhh... can I help you??... He keeps talking, finally sits down and an hour later.... were talking about what I like to do besides read and shop.. I had to sing another song, so he follows me back to the stage area and just stands there.. .When I'm done singing, he kind of grabs me and showers me w/ all these compliments from my smile to my clothes to my voice.. I'm like.. okay...stalker!! LOL... My friends were like laughing.... I'm in shock that this stranger just grabbed me.. LOL... Previously, I would have found a reason to excuse myself because I would be totally over analyzing things... but, now I feel that life is short, so I may as well have fun!!! Oh, my favorite karaoke DJ (who I have a little crush on), can't seem to keep his hands off of me... I was singing and he walked up behind me, put his head on my shoulder and wouldn't let me go!! LOL... I was like.. Lord have mercy!! GEEZ!!
Then on saturday, we had an event at church.. my ex was there.. He was turned around in his seat, staring at me... I didn't notice at first (well, I thought I was imagining things)... but my friend was like.... Stalker, 10 o'clock!! LOL.... afterwards, he walked up to me w/ his mouth open trying to think of something to say... LOL... I just spoke and walked away, as he stood gaping and wrapping his mind around the fact that he I'm over him!!
So, how do I keep myself out of too much trouble??!!! I've gotten numbers, 'interesting' offers and some fine brothers asking to take me out.... LOL...

Oh my goodness, I can only imagine the emotional roller coaster this must be for you. I remember the anticipation of my surgery date and it was all I could think about. To have your surgery denied after all of the mental and physical preparation you have done must be heart breaking. I agree with those that have recommended an appeal. I think the suggestion to save yourself some work and borrow/rework one that's already been written in order for it to fit your situation is a good one because that might lesson some of the stress involved.
Fight the good fight because you are worth it!

I'm not a doctor nor have any medical background so I couldn't comment one way or another another about dehydration per se. But I am wondering if you need some blood work. Could it be related to the potassium? I would definitely talk to MD to see what's up. I can't imagine that is is related to dehydration since you take in so much fluid... again, I'm no md. Sending good thoughts your way. Please keep us posted!

Congratulations Pookeyism!!!! What a great NSV and what a great friend!!! Love the pic. You look awesome!!!! and sooooo happy!!! High five!!!