MeMeMEEE

I can't believe I am so close to 2 years post op. It has flown by. I have been on vacation for the last week and yesterdays weigh in was mid day when I got home. This morning I was 108.2. This surgery is the best thing I have ever done for myself. despite the trouble I had in the beginning. SW 242 Height 4'11'' 6 month Pre-op loss (-28.6) Surgery date 8/8/11 213.4 1 month - 194.2 (- 19.2) 2 months - 180 (- 14.2) 3 months - 170.2 (- 9.8) 4 months - 164.4 (- 5.8) 5 months - 167.2 (+ 2.8) 6 months - 162.4 (-4.8) 7 months - 155.4 (-7) 8 months - 149.6 (-5.8) 9 months - 143.4 (-6.2) 10 months - 139 (-4.4) 11 months - 132.6 (-6.4) 12 months - 126.8 (-5.8) 13 months - 121.4 (-5.4) Made goal! Normal BMI! 14 months - 118 (-3.4) 15 months - 116.2 (-1.8) 16 months - 114.8 (-1.4) 17 months - 112.6 (-2.2) 18 months - 114.6 (+2) 19 months - 109 (-5.6)

Someone asked for a recent picture - the first is 1-1-11 at my daughter's wedding, 8 months before surgery, a week before I went to the orientation. The second is from this past Saturday, my younger daughter's 18th birthday 3-16-13

I don't have anything more recent than Christmas, how sad is that? LOL I have been fine with where I am since I hit goal. These are numbers I have never dreamed of seeing. Apparently down to 92 lbs is a healthy range for me but I don't expect that to happen.

I would say at the end of your diet progression - so maybe 12 weeks?

Not sure if this applies, as I am not a smoker (of anything) but my doctor told me that smoking really affects the time your body takes to heal. His words were "With smokers, all bets are off."

Mine too was at the top, they told me it is the most common place on the sleeve because of the curve I guess? I didn't have dumping before surgery but not sure if before the leak, I wasn't eating much then - I know now it was because the abscess was pushing on my sleeve. My tastes had changed right after surgery but have slowly went back to normal. I actually found a Protein shake I LOVE - Matrix Mint Cookie. I haven't heard much about the glue or clamp treatments. I have only heard of one other person who had the j-tube. Seems like the stents are the main treatment.

my labs showed my ferritin was high at 6 weeks but my Nut didnt realize until about 8 weeks and they sent me to a hematologist thinking lung cancer. he did a ct scan of my chest and saw my abscess in my abdomen, he personally called me and told me that he had no doubt when that was taken care of my ferritin would go back to normal. I met with my surgeon the next day and he told me he thought it was a leak and needed to go in and clean my abdoment out so we scheduled the surgery for 2 days later. After that surgery, when I had the leak test a few days later, it was standing up and didn't show a leak so they assumed no leak. About a week later they did another leak test and I felt nauseous and had to lay down for the rest of the test and then the leak showed when I rolled on my left side, there the whole time.

I have never attributed the back pain to my leak, I absolutely knew the shoulder pain was once they told me (they give us a flyer of when to go to the ER, the shoulder pain wasn't on it but then they tell me it is the most common symptom??). I had the back pain long before the shoulder pain, I remember going with hubby to a movie and leaning forward in the chair and having him rub my back. Now I know! I am eating fine! I was so nervous when I was allowed to eat. I took it very easy at first. I was completely NPO with a j-tube from early November to late January so it was very weird. Now I eat just about anything - the only thing I avoid is soft serve ice cream, it sends me in to dumping pretty quick! Otherwise, everything in moderation. My only (leak) treatment was the j-tube and being NPO - now I had pneumonia, was septic and ended up with Fluid on my lungs in the beginning so I was on some pretty heavy antibiotics, had a blood transfusion, 3 chest tubes, had the picc line while I was in the hospital. After, I had to crush the meds and push in to the j-tube with Water. The Dr mentioned stents in the beginning but the Dr who would do them was on vacation or something at the time and then the subject never came up again. My mom kept telling me to ask and I said no, obviously he didn't feel it was needed now. Later I heard how horrible they were and am so glad I didn't have them!! My leak wasn't discovered until I was like 10 weeks out and my surgeon was shocked - he said I can't believe you aren't sick! I think most people have it discovered very early. I know it could have been so much worse, I am glad my body faught a hard battle before it was discovered. When my leak was healed, they day I got my j-tube out, I asked the PA what were the chances it would open again and he said slim to none - unless I smoked and then all bets were off because smokers bodies don't heal well. So glad I'm not and never was a smoker!!!

Sannah, Thank you so much for sharing these pictures! Although I didn't have a stent (man, I have heard how awful they are!!) I did have a leak and am amazed at how tiny they really are! When you are in the middle of it all and they say "You have a small leak" it sure doesn't feel that way! I also have to say I had back pain too!! Eventually I had left shoulder pain and some bad labs that led to the discovery of my leak. I haven't quite finished reading the thread but I am here to tell you, it's been a year since my leak has healed, life is GREAT!!

a quick google search will net you lots of "packets" - I have compared mine to several on the internet myself.

I won't lie - seeing that +2 lbs this morning freaks me out. But I track everything and am completely honest about it so I know it is most likely fluids as I had alot of sodium this week. SW 242 Height 4'11'' 6 month Pre-op loss (-28.6) Surgery date 8/8/11 213.4 1 month - 194.2 (- 19.2) 2 months - 180 (- 14.2) 3 months - 170.2 (- 9.8) 4 months - 164.4 (- 5.8) 5 months - 167.2 (+ 2.8) 6 months - 162.4 (-4.8) 7 months - 155.4 (-7) 8 months - 149.6 (-5.8) 9 months - 143.4 (-6.2) 10 months - 139 (-4.4) 11 months - 132.6 (-6.4) 12 months - 126.8 (-5.8) 13 months - 121.4 (-5.4) Made goal! Normal BMI! 14 months - 118 (-3.4) 15 months - 116.2 (-1.8) 16 months - 114.8 (-1.4) 17 months - 112.6 (-2.2) 18 months - 114.6 (+2)

Yes you can change your goals, calories, protein, carbs, etc. You can log your fluids, vitamins. It is very customizable.

Go here for the official friend add thread: http://www.verticalsleevetalk.com/topic/22264-official-my-fitness-pal-friend-add-thread/

I would go w the j tube also.

Tuesday I was diagnosed with a leak. I am 2 1/2 months out. I am shocked to say the least. The pocket of infection is in between my stomach and spleen so they can't just have it drained. I have to have surgery tomorrow for it. It still sounds like he isn't sure how he is going to approach getting at the infection. I am worried and scared. He says most likely it was or is a pin hole leak. I am hoping it has healed itself and just needs the infection removed from the abdominal cavity. Anyone ever been through something similar?

I have been reflecting a lot recently about where I was a year ago, going through my leak and basically housebound. I am happy to report I enjoyed the holidays and even lost a little during them. I am so thankful for my sleeve today. Start Weight 242 Height 4'11'' 6 month Pre-op loss (-28.6) Surgery date 8/8/11 weight 213.4 1 month - 194.2 (- 19.2) 2 months - 180 (- 14.2) 3 months - 170.2 (- 9.8) 4 months - 164.4 (- 5.8) 5 months - 167.2 (+ 2.8) 6 months - 162.4 (-4.8) 7 months - 155.4 (-7) 8 months - 149.6 (-5.8) 9 months - 143.4 (-6.2) 10 months - 139 (-4.4) 11 months - 132.6 (-6.4) 12 months - 126.8 (-5.8) 13 months - 121.4 (-5.4) Made goal! Normal BMI! 14 months - 118 (-3.4) 15 months - 116.2 (-1.8) 16 months - 114.8 (-1.4) 17 months - 112.6 (-2.2)

I just wanted to come give a little update - it has been almost a year since my leak healed. I am loving my sleeve. I am at my goal weight for about 4 months now, continuing to lose a little here and there. I thankfully haven't had any more problems since it healed. Miraculously my sleeve works just perfect since it healed - no problem with vitamins, protein, anything. It was a real struggle going through the whole ordeal but I am so thankful for my health today, 130 lbs lighter and so much energy. I feel wonderful.