Nancy Rivers

Well, a couple of weeks ago, I gained 4 pounds. It has since come back off plus some. At first I was thinking it had something to do with TOM, but it still hasn't come despite the fact I should have started 3 days ago. I guess I'm just really screwey right now.... LOL

You really need to be checking your blood sugars if you think it's any form of hypoglycemia. By the way, diabetes is the OPPOSITE of hypoglycemia - diabetes is too much sugar in the blood, hypoglycemia is too little. While I am diabetic, my sister is boarderline hypoglycemic - her sugars will dip below 60 if she's not careful. When the blood sugar is below 60, things like what you describe can happen.
If you don't have a glucose meter and test strips - get one! Test your blood sugar when you have these episodes. After you eat, wait another 30 minutes or so and test again. Testing when you first get up in the morning will give you the "fasting" blood sugar reading. Testing 2 hours after eating gives you an idea of how your body is reacting to the food you are taking in (although, I would test immediately before I eat and then 2 hours later to really understand how a food reacted in my body).
Then when you go to the doctor, take the blood glucose readings with you - it will help your doctor.

Why can't the surgery be the way God is helping you? Perhaps it was through him that the medical community discovered that this procedure helps so many people who are overweight. Perhaps it was through him that this opportunity was able to be presented to you as an option. I have always believed that he provides us options to learn about new things and part of that is through challenges for us. If we make a mistake, then usually another option to correct that mistake will "mysteriously appear". Why can't that be God helping?

I haven't been on here for a while - just been really busy with life (work, school, boyfriend - yes, I actually have one now!). I had my VSG surgery on July 12, 2011. On Wednesday, October 4, 2012 I had a checkup and just got my blood test results back from it and had to share with you. Every single blood test result they were monitoring is now 100% NORMAL - without medication! Prior to my surgery I was diabetic with an A1C of 8.8 - that is now 6.0 with no medication since surgery. My cholesterol is the best it has ever been. My Vitamin D has always been very low - is now in the normal range. No, I'm not taking the supplements like I'm supposed to - but it is still in the normal range. I'm getting it through my normal diet.
Yes, my weight has not come off like I have wanted. I am a SLOW looser. My starting weight was 288.8. My current weight: 216.6. My BMI is now 37. Do I care about this? NO. Why? Because I am feeling the best I have EVER felt in my life health wise and my blood work is finally 100% normal (also, probably for the first time in my adult life). As far as I am concerned the VSG is a HUGE success. I have regained my health over and above my wildest dreams. My weight on the scale does not matter. I did this surgery to get my life back - to get my health back. I have! The weight will take care of itself. I will stick with the program of course, but the scale does not rule me.
Would I choose to spend the money out of my pocket for this surgery again knowing what I know now? OH HECK YES!!!! It has easily been the best investment I have ever made.

I haven't been on here for a while - just been really busy with life (work, school, boyfriend - yes, I actually have one now!). I had my VSG surgery on July 12, 2011. On Wednesday, October 4, 2012 I had a checkup and just got my blood test results back from it and had to share with you. Every single blood test result they were monitoring is now 100% NORMAL - without medication! Prior to my surgery I was diabetic with an A1C of 8.8 - that is now 6.0 with no medication since surgery. My cholesterol is the best it has ever been. My Vitamin D has always been very low - is now in the normal range. No, I'm not taking the supplements like I'm supposed to - but it is still in the normal range. I'm getting it through my normal diet.
Yes, my weight has not come off like I have wanted. I am a SLOW looser. My starting weight was 288.8. My current weight: 216.6. My BMI is now 37. Do I care about this? NO. Why? Because I am feeling the best I have EVER felt in my life health wise and my blood work is finally 100% normal (also, probably for the first time in my adult life). As far as I am concerned the VSG is a HUGE success. I have regained my health over and above my wildest dreams. My weight on the scale does not matter. I did this surgery to get my life back - to get my health back. I have! The weight will take care of itself. I will stick with the program of course, but the scale does not rule me.
Would I choose to spend the money out of my pocket for this surgery again knowing what I know now? OH HECK YES!!!! It has easily been the best investment I have ever made.

I haven't been on here for a while - just been really busy with life (work, school, boyfriend - yes, I actually have one now!). I had my VSG surgery on July 12, 2011. On Wednesday, October 4, 2012 I had a checkup and just got my blood test results back from it and had to share with you. Every single blood test result they were monitoring is now 100% NORMAL - without medication! Prior to my surgery I was diabetic with an A1C of 8.8 - that is now 6.0 with no medication since surgery. My cholesterol is the best it has ever been. My Vitamin D has always been very low - is now in the normal range. No, I'm not taking the supplements like I'm supposed to - but it is still in the normal range. I'm getting it through my normal diet.
Yes, my weight has not come off like I have wanted. I am a SLOW looser. My starting weight was 288.8. My current weight: 216.6. My BMI is now 37. Do I care about this? NO. Why? Because I am feeling the best I have EVER felt in my life health wise and my blood work is finally 100% normal (also, probably for the first time in my adult life). As far as I am concerned the VSG is a HUGE success. I have regained my health over and above my wildest dreams. My weight on the scale does not matter. I did this surgery to get my life back - to get my health back. I have! The weight will take care of itself. I will stick with the program of course, but the scale does not rule me.
Would I choose to spend the money out of my pocket for this surgery again knowing what I know now? OH HECK YES!!!! It has easily been the best investment I have ever made.

I haven't been on here for a while - just been really busy with life (work, school, boyfriend - yes, I actually have one now!). I had my VSG surgery on July 12, 2011. On Wednesday, October 4, 2012 I had a checkup and just got my blood test results back from it and had to share with you. Every single blood test result they were monitoring is now 100% NORMAL - without medication! Prior to my surgery I was diabetic with an A1C of 8.8 - that is now 6.0 with no medication since surgery. My cholesterol is the best it has ever been. My Vitamin D has always been very low - is now in the normal range. No, I'm not taking the supplements like I'm supposed to - but it is still in the normal range. I'm getting it through my normal diet.
Yes, my weight has not come off like I have wanted. I am a SLOW looser. My starting weight was 288.8. My current weight: 216.6. My BMI is now 37. Do I care about this? NO. Why? Because I am feeling the best I have EVER felt in my life health wise and my blood work is finally 100% normal (also, probably for the first time in my adult life). As far as I am concerned the VSG is a HUGE success. I have regained my health over and above my wildest dreams. My weight on the scale does not matter. I did this surgery to get my life back - to get my health back. I have! The weight will take care of itself. I will stick with the program of course, but the scale does not rule me.
Would I choose to spend the money out of my pocket for this surgery again knowing what I know now? OH HECK YES!!!! It has easily been the best investment I have ever made.

Why can't the surgery be the way God is helping you? Perhaps it was through him that the medical community discovered that this procedure helps so many people who are overweight. Perhaps it was through him that this opportunity was able to be presented to you as an option. I have always believed that he provides us options to learn about new things and part of that is through challenges for us. If we make a mistake, then usually another option to correct that mistake will "mysteriously appear". Why can't that be God helping?

I had my surgery on July 12. Today is November 5, so I am almost 4 months post-op. I started my journey at 288.8 and now I am at 246.6. Sadly, I have been at this weight (in the 240's) for the last 6 weeks. I'm hoping that breaks soon.
I started out in size 28W pants and 3x/4x tops. Today, I am wearing size 22W pants and L/XL tops. Actually, I did try a size 20W pants on and while they do fit, they are very tight - so I am hopeful that they soon won't be so tight.
My A1C (measure of blood sugar over a period of 2-3 months) was 8.8 in May. It is now a 6.6. I am completely off my diabetes medications. My cholesterol has become healthier with the HDL at 39 (was 34 5 months ago) and LDL is now below 100 (was over 120 5 months ago). My triglycerides are now in the normal range as well. My blood pressure is now normal instead of borderline high to high. My back still pains me, but my knees are not as painful or sore.
I can now stand for a full hour while I do my job. I have not been able to do that in years. I can walk for about 3 miles (prior to surgery it was about 100 feet). I have more energy now than I did before the surgery. I am working out at the gym several times a week and absolutely LOVING it! I never in a million years would have thought that I would ever say that. I actually miss working out when I cannot make it to the gym. No way would I have ever imagined that for me either.
Just the other day, I caught a glimpse of myself in a mirror as I was passing by and I did a double take. I recognized myself, but at the same time I did not recognize myself. I am still me - I still look like myself. However, the reflection was not the same person I remember from 4 months ago. It was a very strange feeling, but I liked it.
My biggest hurdle so far has been my own head. I had no complications after the surgery. I have not had any issues with eating food. I have been able to eat anything that I have wanted. That in many ways is exacerbating my head hunger problem. I wish I did have some problems with eating some food - if eating a food would make me ill, then maybe my head would finally learn. My problem is making the healthy choices rather than the unhealthy ones that was making prior to surgery. I can eat at a restaurant - typically bringing about 70-80% of my meal home for additional meals (a restaurant meal that I would have eaten before surgery in one sitting now lasts me about 4 or 5 meals).
It has been almost 4 months and I have come a long ways. I have an even longer journey still ahead of me. However, I realized today that I am NOT the same person I was 4 months ago. I am still not the person I want to be, but I'm no longer the person who was eating herself to an early grave.
Am I happy that I had the surgery? Yes. Would I make the same decision today as I had back in May to have the surgery? Oh heck yes!

Congratulations! That's a great achievement!

I have never cared what others think about me nor do I make judgements about other people based on their looks. Call me a cold-hearted b**** but that's just who I am. I've had people judge me based on my looks - thinking I can't do things and I have proven them wrong time and again (like my college professors thinking I couldn't do field biology which required a LOT of walking in different environments and terrains but they allowed me in the class anyway because it was a requirement - both told me after they were shocked that I could keep up with them). Granted, it's obvious that I'm heavy, but most people have never guessed how heavy I really was because of the way I carry my weight. I happened to be rather happy with myself the way I was despite being morbidly obese. But, that's why I don't judge others based on their looks.

When I started this process I was of the mindset that I would NOT have surgery. However, I knew that everything that I had tried - all the "fad" diets out there were not working for me. I needed something else. So, I searched out a weight loss doctor who was not just a weight loss surgeon - but worked with patients via non-surgical methods. That's when I found my surgeon. After going to his seminar and talking to some of his staff there, I discovered that while I could see him for non-surgical methods, that surgery would most likely be a better option for me to keep the weight off permanently - and they provided me with some information. However, they told me to research it and decide for myself. I did. I saw through my research that WLS is not the easy way out as most think. It also is not the cure to obesity or magic pill or whatever. It was a tool to help me learn a new lifestyle. It also was not as dangerous as I was lead to believe.
I really had to think it through. If I did not have the surgery, would I be able to "stick with the diet" that would lead to permanent weight loss. I knew myself and the answer is no - I would not have been able to stick with it. That's why every diet that I tried in the past failed. I would get discouraged when I saw a plateau and "fall off the wagon" or I would get tired of having certain foods only, or get cravings for sweets that I would cave into, etc. That was true even when I saw other improvements like looser clothing and health improvements. The stopping of the weight loss would override any positives that I had seen and I would give up. It was also true when I did see a weight loss doctor in the past - I couldn't stick with the diet he gave me (optifast).
I have only been sleeved for a month. I have definitely thought in the last month why the heck did I do this? I have wanted to "give up" on the diet and start eating the way I used to - but I literally CAN'T. My stomach will not allow me to go back to the way I was before surgery. It's forcing me to keep on track and stick with the program. Even with this plateau that I was just on (it lasted a week and half, but it finally broke) and I got discouraged, I still could not give up on the plan because it was impossible for me to do so. Now, I am loosing weight again. Still not where I was before this plateau - but closer (I had gained 4 pounds - in the last 3 days, I have lost 3 pounds - so I'm still up by 1). Had I not had the surgery, I would not have lost these 3 pounds again - instead I would have gone back to my very bad habits that I had before and would have gained back all 15 pounds that I had lost to that point and probably would have gained even more. This despite the fact that my clothes are fitting looser and I was feeling better - I have more stamina now and can actually walk again without it "killing me". So, even though I had these positives to help reinforce that I was doing the right thing and to stick with it - I know I would not have - I never had in the past. But with this tool, I had to stick with it. While I know that I am in the "honeymoon" phase with the sleeve and it won't function exactly this way forever, it is giving me the time I need to change my habits permanently.
Now that I'm starting to lose the weight again, I'm grateful for my sleeve for not allowing me to give up. I still have issues to work through obviously, but it's nice to know I have this "friend" who will keep me on track no matter what at this point and give me the time I need to literally change my mindset and habits. None of my other friends could do for me what the sleeve has in the last 2 weeks.
I don't know if that is helpful to you, it's just been my experience.

Welcome to the forums! That is a great start! Congratulations!

Congratulations!!!

So sorry you are having pains from the gas. It took about 3 or 4 days for the gas to totally dissipate for me. Walking and movement really does help to get the gas out. When the pain started to migrate to my left shoulder, I started exercising that shoulder - lifting my left arm up over my head, doing arm rotations, crossing the arm in front of me, etc and it drove the pain back down to the abdomen and I no longer had the pain in the shoulder. Walking is what got rid of the rest of the gas - but as I said, it does take a few days.
I never used the gas-x strips because that will only get rid of the gas in your stomach. The gas from the surgery is OUTSIDE of your stomach and intestines - therefore it won't work on it. The only way to really get rid of it is through exercise and time.
It will clear up for you and you will start to feel better day by day. Hang in there!

Thanks.
Today I am making another baby step - I am no longer going to eat fast food. This will be really difficult for me as I have literally lived on it for the last several years. Eating McD's, Burger King, Wendy's, etc for Breakfast, lunch and dinner EVERYDAY. Yeah, I knew it was bad for me, but these places are EVERYWHERE and it's hard for me to resist. But the dietician yesterday said that I couldn't eat there anymore, so I need to do this step. Yeah, I know that several now have salads - but that is not why I go to these places. The temptation is just too great if I go for just a salad, therefore, I need to cut it out completely. Gads, this is going to be tough...
I also came across another really helpful website (I posted it in the general discussion area, but wanted to mention it here too). It has a LOT of links to various places - including the link to a document called "The Cornell Weight Loss Surgery Program: Dietary Guidelines for Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy" and another link to the "Nutrition Guidelines for Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy for the Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center Bariatric Surgery Program". I've only had time to read through the Cornell one, but wow, it answered a LOT of questions that I had about the dietary guidelines - giving examples of what foods you could eat at what stage (and yes, meatloaf is a mushy food!). A quick look at the one from Johns Hopkins has recipes in it. There are also other recipes, hints for making Protein drinks palatable, comparisons of the various bariatric procedures, links to sites with information on the long term effectiveness of VSG, etc at this website. http://vsgfaq.wordpress.com/

I'm really excited to be starting life anew. I start the pre-op diet tomorrow and while I kind of dread it, I really am looking forward to it. I did my shopping today so I'll be ready!

Also, scales are rarely ever in agreement with each other. I have weighed myself on my home scale, drove to the doctor's office 5 minutes away and hop on their scale and have had a difference of 5 pounds. I did that a couple of times - and both times it was consistently like that, so I just figured that was the difference in the scales.
If you are going to track your weight, use one scale only for sanity sake. I'm using my personal scale since I know that I won't be at the surgeon's office as much after the surgery, so this way I will be able to track my weight. Officially, they go by the doctor's scale of course, but for me, I will be using my own scale.

I was told the only type of Protein I should have is Whey Protein Isolate as that is what is best absorbed in the body.

Losing 2-3 pounds a week is great! And you have already lost 50 pounds! That is really awesome! Look at what you have already accomplished.
It's easy to focus on the negative, but that won't help. All it will do is lead to depression and make it easier to fall back into your old, bad habits. So what you haven't lost 100 pounds yet. So what you aren't loosing 10 pounds a week. Is it really the end of the world? No. The fact is everyone will lose weight differently. It probably took you YEARS to get to your starting weight. It won't come off overnight.
Focus on the positive and what you have already accomplished. Celebrate that victory! Revel in the fact that you have lost 50 pounds that will NEVER RETURN. Glory in the fact you are learning new healthier habits that you can follow for the rest of your life. Know the weight is coming off due to all of this hard work that you are putting into making your tool work for you.
Sorry if that sounds harsh - especially from someone who hasn't been sleeved yet. But I know I'll probably end up saying some of the things you had in your post - and when I do, I hope someone will take the time to tell me this stuff to keep me on the straight and narrow as it were.

Welcome to the forums. Look around the site and you will find a ton of great information on the surgery and the after effects.

Even though I am not going to Mexico to have my surgery, I really do appreciate Renee sharing her experience because it could happen ANYWHERE. I know from personal experience that if my sister (a rather knowledgeable nurse) had not stayed on top of certain things, my mom would have ended up dead thanks to a couple of incompetent doctors/nurses here in the USA.
As someone who has not had the sleeve done yet, I am thankful for posts like this. I want to know the good AND the bad. It plays into my decision. It also reminds me of things that I do need to discuss with my surgeon. Let's face it, it's hard to remember everything that needs to be discussed, and having posts like this helps to jog my memory and talk to him about it.
I'm sorry that Renee had such a hard time of things, but I am glad that she decided to share with us her very personal experience so that we could learn from it.

You look awesome! Thanks for posting.

I've been dieting off and on for years, and yeah, I may loose some weight, but it never stays off and when it comes back, it brings friends.
Unfortunately many people tend to think of WLS as the "easy way out" mainly because they do not understand it. It's not an easy road and does require lifestyle changes. The WLS is a tool to help with those changes (at least that's how I see it). Since my stomach is only going to be about 20-30% of it's original size, it makes it more difficult for me to eat the massively oversized portions that I am used to. Could I make that change on my own? Well, maybe - but I have 38 years of not being able to do that under my ever expanding belt. That's one reason why I am electing to do the surgery. I will not be telling my sister about this though. She's a RN and teaches nursing, but is dead set against any type of WLS. According to her it isn't safe nor effective. Well, statistics don't lie. She thinks that I should be just like her and have the "willpower" to loose it on my own. Thankfully, I am not my sister.
As for anyone else who doesn't like it, well, the only opinion that truly matters is my own. I am doing what I need to for ME and not for anyone else. If they don't like that, then so be it.