kgb

Finally! I got to come home yesterday. I still have my pic line for another week or 2 so no food or liquids yet. I go back to see my surgeon on the 17th. They'll set up an upper gi to see if the leak has closed. Thanks for all the thoughts and prayers, the support here is amazing!

actually, it sounds exactly like what everyone says will happen if you eat too fast. Your sleeve is still finicky - sometimes food won't agree with it. The faster you eat, the more "full" you're going to feel because the food doesn't have time to mix with stomach acids and you're not giving your sleeve a chance to work. Always good to check with the doctor though if you're feeling uncomfortable. Most likely, you just ate too fast.
Stricture issues with the sleeve are associated with a larger size bougie than they use now. Usually a 48f - most are done with a 32f now, which virtually removed all stricture issues.
Hang in there!

Well all I am 1 year and almost 1 month post op. I am 3 lbs from loosing one hundred pounds, and I am feeling wonderful. However not so wonderful when I eat just about anything really. I can eat and within minutes to an hour I feel so sick that I gag and vomit on most occasions. I had complications in the begining and I am concerned that they are going to be long term if permanent complications. I am still only able to eat very little which is great, but that very little makes me feel like I have been hit by a Mack Truck and it sits and hurts until it comes back up. I hate that I am still going through so much, but you know what I look at the plus side of it. I am reaching my goal and I am loving the new me!!! Did you or are you having these problems??

wooooooooooooooooohooooooooooooooooooo!

I bought unflavored Calcium crystals from Bariatric Advantage. My goal is to mix it with Decaf coffee in the morning along with a packet of the nectar cappucino Protein. Hoping that works for me and allows me to kill two birds with one stone.

Yes, I do get head hunger. I try to have something that is one of the following, depending on the circumstances:
1. Small. Sometimes I just need a little something sweet, salty or whatever. If this is true, often a saltine cracker or two will satisfy a salt urge and one small candy or sweet will satisfy a sweet urge.
2. Without calories. Sometimes I am thirsty. If that's true, after I drink a glass of cold Water or a cup of hot Water, I'm not hungry anymore. This hits me most often if I'm slacking on my water that day.
3. With Protein. Solid Protein limits how much I can eat and keeps me full longer. Some days I just need a little more solid food. That's probably not head hunger though.
Sometimes if I know I should be full, I distract myself by putting on lotion on my hands or face, brushing my teeth if it's nighttime (try to not eat after nightly brush and floss), or finding something else to do. I might start reading or play a computer game instead of watching TV. I also sometimes light my fireplace and a candle. That feels like a treat to me! If I go that route, I usually also have a cup of hot water with a little sugar free caramel Syrup in it.
If I eat empty carbs, like white bread, cake or Cookies, I seem to be hungrier the rest of the day. Needless to say, I avoid these empty carbs most days.
Lynda

When I got home from the hospital, all i seen on tv were advertisements for pizza or some other fast food place. I had to challenge the message in my head and change it to: If I did this surgery, then I don't need that stuff. It was helpful I taught myself to tune out when there's a commerical. That is totally helpful. :aureola:

Well I had my first bout with what I will call "head hunger". Of course this occured when the forum was down and I needed some help. I was sitting watching tv and could not get the forum to come up so I guess I was a little bored. I was watching tv and it seemed that every commercial that came on was for food. I think this triggered something in me that said "EAT". It got to the point that I just knew that I had to get up and get something to eat. Well I did get up and eat but then my stomach told me that I was full but my head said that I should eat more. I guess I did eat a little more than I usually eat but then it was not a total bust as what I ate was Protein. At least it was not Cookies or something sinful.
Does anyone else have attacks like this and if so what do you do to combat them. I try to keep myself busy at night but that is when it seems that I watch more tv and see more of the food commercials.

I'm guessing there was a corrupt database issue and we lost a couple day's worth of data. Not doing those transaction log backup, eh?
I saw there were several SQL Database errors leading up to the site's demise. That is too bad.
I'm a SQL DBA with over 12 years experience if you need any help/advice on dealing with corrupt databases or restoring logs.

im just glad we are back up and running!! :Banane57:

Hi Everyone,
I went in for my annual physical on Jan 4ht- my blood work was excellent. She asked me if I had any problems. I said only one. When I take my medication at night before I go to bed, sometimes it feels like it is stuck. I never have this issues in the morning. It may have something to do with laying down right after I take the meds too. So she refereed me to another specialist. I saw them today and tomorrow I am going to have a Endoscopy (EGD). They do not think it is anything serious, but just want to make sure everything is just fine.

So off I go tomorrow to have this done. They said they will put a small camera down my throat and check everything out--now won't this be fun. They will give me some really great drugs to make me "happy" and I will know feel a thing.

I may be pretty sleeping tomorrow when I get home. I will check in with all of you and let you know I am doing just fine when I can.

I am always proactive when it comes to my health. I make sure I stay on top of everything when it comes to my health.

Hugs,
Suzanne

I AM GOING TO MEXICO BABY!!! My date is set FEB. 4th Whooooohooooo
:Banane57: :Banane55: :Banane55: :Banane55: :wub: :Banane55: :Banane55: :Banane55: :Banane55: :Banane57:

Well I guess there will be no chocolate for me this Valentine's Day and I am completely fine with that. :smile1: I will be going in for my VSG that day. My fiance just had his done on January 3rd and he is doing very well with his adjustments.
I will admit I am a little afraid with some of the recovery issues I see with him but I think overall this is the best decision for me. I have been on a roller coaster ride with my weight-- gaining and losing 100, 50, 80, 35 pounds back and forth. This definitely cannot be good for my body, not to mention the heredity of heart disease, hbp, diabetes etc. etc. I guess I just have to keep convincing myself that I am doing the right thing.
I am fairly new to this website and find so many inspiring stories on these forums, I really do thank you all and enjoy the good reads.
Wish me luck and I will be back on to share my journey with all of you wonderful people.

I get lots of questions regarding how to get back on track. This journey is tough, and one thing I've learned is that I'm not perfect - but if I'm going to move past that I have to figure out how to forgive myself. For me, the main factor in my obesity was my inability to overcome this. So I would give up and gain all my weight back, and even more. I cannot do this to myself!!! I have to pick myself back up and keep it moving. I didn't go through 2 torturous painful weight loss surgeries to just keep giving up. Heck no!!!
So, along my Sleeve Journey, when I noticed I wasn't doing well and needed to get back on track this is what I did:
The BASICS BOOTCAMP:
For 5 STRICT DAYS I will eat only...
Proteins: Seafoods, Poultry and eggs, Dairies, nuts/seeds including Peanut Butter.< /strong>
Veggies: Green only.
Fruits: None.
Breads/Cereals/Other Carbs: None.
Fluids: One gallon of Water (128 oz.)
Protein Drinks (RTD or Powder).
Avoid: Sugar and Sodium
Once the 5 days are over, I am pretty much over the Sugar Carb Demon. Don't get me wrong, I don't hate carbs! I do need them to live a healthy life and since I workout a lot it is important I have them. However, I need GOOD carbs. Whole grains, fruits, veggies... But I don't need processed sugars. White carbs, in cereals, breads, rice... etc.
Lots will do the 5 day pouch test. liquids only is simply from being threatened with my life (post op) or if I'm just feeling sick and to let my Sleevie rest. That's it.
Good luck everyone! This journey is tough, but nothing worth doing is ever easy. Xoxo

Hello Vance and Welcome Congrats on getting sleeved It seems that you are doing a fantastic job. Almost 50 lbs in so little time,that is amazing!!!!

Welcome to the group Vance You are at the beginning of your journey. This forum is full of wonderful knowledge that will help you along the way. Keep on posting your success's and dificulties.
Congrats on taking a large step to getting back to a healthier you.

I was always athletic too. I do have to say that the desk job combined with my inability to Portion Control really did me in. Loved your story. i will be sleeved on Wednesday.

Hi everyone! My name is Vance. I have really enjoyed looking around in this forum. What a great place of encouragement and comradery and I hope I can add as I go through my journey.
I was very athletic growing up and even played semi-pro baseball. About 20 years ago I started my first sit down desk job, and there began my upsizing. I gained several pounds every year until it reached a point this past summer (2011) where I ballooned up to 330 lbs. With three wonderful children and a beautiful wife, I decided it was time to do something about it before something worse happens. I decided to meet with Dr. David Kim, weight loss surgeon in Dallas, TX. After a great meeting, I decided I wanted to go for it. The sleeve was going to be my surgery and after my insurance approving it, I started my liquid diet. I lost 34.5 lbs in just a few weeks and weighed in at 295.5 on my surgery date, 12/31/2011. Surgery was good with not any difficulty. Today is day 8 and I just moved to Phase 2 of my liquid diet. It's going pretty good. Getting in my Protein and Water and currently down to 281.5 (down 48.5 lbs pre-op / 14 lbs post-op.) I'm a little head hungry, especially when I see pizza or fast food commercials, but I just sip on my Water and I am okay.
Anyways, I just wanted to say hi to everyone. When I registered for this site, it suggested I post my story, so there it was. I hope to be an encouragement to others as I have already been encouraged by you all so far.
Thanks!
Vance

Hey u got your surgery in 2010 right? How are things now I'm reviewing forums and getting my surgery next month feb 2012

Are you taking an acid reducer? Is it possible you have acid mimicking the feeling of hunger?
When you eat, are you eating on plan (i.e. Proteins first, etc.)? I find that if I eat a meal that's heavier in carbs I feel hungry sooner than if I eat primarily Protein and veggies. Maybe you just need to rework your food plan and see if something works better for you?

I guess I was kind of lucky in that I had a very busy day before surgery. You're taking a big step into a wonderful world! Good luck and keep us posted!

Your body is adjusting to all of the changes and recovering from surgery. Just be patient and you will see the loss. Most of us have hit a stall here or there. The weight will come off again! Start walking if you haven't already. That really helps.

I'm having the same problem. Lost 18 lbs the first week then it stopped. I asked my doc at my follow up appt. and he said that is completely normal. He said now that I'm starting to a little more regularly, the weight will start coming off. I guess he was right because this morning I woke up to a 1 lb loss! Hang in there, hopefully you'll notice it soon.

I think that you are doing great. According to your ticker, I'm assuming that your BMI is lower than most of ours. Just make sure that you are following your doctor's instructions and you'll be fine.
Sometimes patience is the key.

Today is my 5 month surgeriversary!!!!! Yay!!!! Ok, so i'm 5 months out and yes i've had some bumps in the road (Thank You to everyone who was there for me during those very tough moments - Diva's Boot Camp Basic really help me get back on track) I'm feeling better than ever now and really looking forward to my 6 months surgeriversary when I'll be updating you again... I've lost 74.4 pounds and here are my pics ... ( in just 5 months still can't believe it) from 247 to 172/ from 3x/2x to L/M from 18 to 9 and LOVING IT!!!
LOVE my sleeve
1st pic the day of surgery
The rest were taken earlier this week....