FatToPhat

Yeah, I've mostly been happy with mine, too, and am glad I made this decision. I've lost 42 lbs with it so far and still get full most of the time pretty quickly. Not only that, but it has given me the jump start I needed to break through the mental barrier I was having to eating right and exercising. I don't feel like a lab rat at all. I did as much research as was available at the time and still feel that it was the safest surgery out there. So what if the weight loss is slower? It's working for me. Sorry some others are not as happy with it or have had bad experiences, but I'm sure that is the same with all of the weight loss surgeries.

Also, try to remember what you ate before the pain started. I have read on the Vertical Sleeve site where people have eaten something that doesn't digest well, like celery or something else very dense or fibrous, and it just sits in the stomach for days before it finally digests. I have also heard of a weird thing called a Bezoor (spelling?) which is a hardened mass of food in the stomach or intestine. Although we are not supposed to have pop, I have read that the carbonation can break that stuff up. I think cranberry juice can also do that, but I'm not 100% sure that's right.

Soooo....I'm thinkin' maybe an ulcer? My doc told me an ulcer can cause nausea and pain after eating. I wouldn't think it was a leak, because I was also told that would be a fever and rapid heart rate. Necrosis, I don't know, but I think the problem with that would that it would eventually lead to a leak and you wouldn't necessarily have any symptoms until the leak occurred. ??? I'm thinking upper GI, though, too, because if it was an ulcer, that would at least tell you that much. Although it does seem strange that you would still develop an ulcer after being on the prilosec. Oh...maybe gall bladder? That can cause nausea, especially after eating and pain that radiates to the epigastric (stomach) area as well as into the shoulders. It can come and go, though, and would be worse if you were eating higher fat foods. Gallstones are pretty common with WLS. Oh, and I doubt it would be kidney because you have kidneys on both sides and it would hurt in your back, not your front. Good luck and keep us posted!

Interesting article! Maybe as my memory improves I'll start remembering to stay out of the potato chip bag!!

Yahoo!! Happy Dance!! I'm SO glad to hear you are starting to lose again!! I know how frustrating it can be when you are doing everything right and nothing is budging on the scale. Our bodies are so weird, I still haven't figured it out. I had a "bad" day yesterday and ate potato chips AND chocolate and was still down another pound this morning. Go figure...

Thank you so much for sharing your experience and I'm sorry that you had to go through that. I do want to point out that there are complications with ANY of the surgeries, including the sleeve. It is important for anyone considering any weight loss surgery to do their research and be well informed and then to be comfortable with the amount of risk they are taking with the surgery of their choice. I'm glad you are doing better now, Lena.

I hope you are feeling better now that it has been almost 2 weeks since this post. I'm sure this was just your body trying to recover.

I actually think you ARE having a plateau. I have read of people having plateaus lasting 5-6 weeks. I have had a couple that lasted 3 weeks and the first one started at about 2 weeks out. I think it has to do with the body trying to adjust to the shock of the surgery, decreased calories and CHANGE in those calories. What we are eating is different and I don't think the body knows how to handle it. I think it is maybe possible that you aren't eating enough calories. I know they say 1200 calories should be our goal and that we should lose weight on that, but I think if it is just not enough, our body figures out how to conserve energy. I think we don't hear about these long plateaus with regular diets because I think they give up before they start losing again! I have had to come to terms with the fact that with this surgery the weight isn't going to just fall off without any work on my part. I almost have had to forget I had the surgery and just work on eating better and exercising. I actually started to lose weight when I increased my calories and even when I started eating more carbs! Weird! I think we are all different and you will find what works for you eventually. Don't give up or get too discouraged!

Ouch! That just sounds awful!! Is that what I have to look forward to??

Hang in there. It actually seems like my stalls have slowed down and I'm losing more regularly now, although still not very fast. I'm over 3 months post op.

Yahoo!! 33 lbs is awesome! I was wondering how you've been. Thanks for posting. Keep up the good work and good luck with the 5K!

Yeah, I'm definitely saving for a boob job!

I went to see my gynocologist today who also is a surgeon. I was complaining about my laproscopic incisions and how they are still so dark and noticeable at almost 3 months out. She said that it takes about a year for them to fade and that whatever they look like in a year is probably what they will always look like, so for me to be patient! Just thought I'd post this in case anyone else is as impatient as I am!

Oh, yes! At about 2-3 weeks post surgery, I went into a stall for THREE weeks!! Drove me crazy, but I just kept reminding myself about the "Dreaded 3 week Stall" and, sure enough, if finally broke! I did have to tighten up my calories and carbs a little before it did, but it did break, and that was all that counted!

Having to turn sideways and pull myself, groaning the whole time, out of my car. Still happening despite a 37 pound loss. Having my car seat belt so tight that I just gave up wearing it, even though I firmly believe in seat belts. I put it on for the first time today and it was ALMOST comfortable!

I am SO glad I've only told a very few people! I've noticed a couple of them looking me up and down each time they see me. Since the weight loss has been slow, I always feel self concious when they do that. They're probably thinking "Well, she hasn't lost much! She must really be sabotaging this weight loss surgery thing!" or something like that.

I had seriously considered the lap band before reading about the plication. I am SO glad I didn't do it! Although the lap band has certainly helped a lot of people lose weight without complications, it just seems like I'm hearing so many stories about erosion and other problems with the band. So sorry that happened to you, also, gen. I hope you have continued success with the plication!

Thanks Alex! Good idea! It does seem kinda nuts that there're over 1100 members and only 1 % of them are posting! Bunch of lurkers....

I've been frustrated with the slow weight loss and hunger pains, etc, but I will agree that it has "saved me from myself" a couple of times! On an ocassional bad day, I've gone to a fast food restaurant with the intention of eating a big ole' hamburger with fries and....could only eat about 1/4 of it all. Thank goodness!

Mine was that I had lost 80 lbs with diet and exercise several years ago and was slowly gaining it all back. This past fall I quickly gained back that last 30 lbs of it which totally freaked me out. I decided I had to do something different!

Fajitas without the tortillas

Hey L, That's awesome! What a great goal! I know you can do it!

Hmmm...I've never heard of flush free niacin! And it helps to lose weight?! I might have to look into that. Thanks!