overboard

This is the first time I have had a bump in the road after VSG surgery. I lost weight, didn't sweat the stall, etc. and I have had a lot of success. My weight loss stopped at about 9 months. The doctor said it was to be expected because I was so close to my goal weight. He seemed pleased. This summer I stopped weighing myself because I was on vacation and away from my scale. Then I was afraid to look. When I finally looked I realized I gained about 10 pounds. I am so disappointed in myself. I think I developed some bad habits that don't work when you are at a healthy BMI. For example, I have always eaten a large amount of cheese, not lowfat. It was fine as I was losing weight but I think it may be too fattening now. I have retained most of my good habits, regularly walking, mostly protein, etc. But now I find that foods I was avoiding can be consumed, like bread or chips. Although I don't often eat it, I have had it on occasion. Which I never while I was losing weight. I am trying to get back on the protein only wagon and lessening my cheese intake but I am pretty discouraged that I gained so much weight back so fast. Prior to surgery I wouldn't gain that much weight so quickly. I am so freaked out that I will return to my old ways. It has happened to others with VSG surgery where they have gained a significant amount of weight back, I have witnessed it with friends who have had the surgery. I want this to work. I have been such a good patient prior to this and was so proud of my progress. Now I understand the whole "Honeymoon" phase. It's over and I am so scared! I feel like I did prior to surgery when I was on a diet. Anxious, full of self hate and obessing on dieting. Ugh! I hoped this would not happen to me! I hope there is someone out there who got through a setback like this. I am hoping to diet and exercise my way through this, but I won't go back to shakes. They make me gag.

I absolutely hated protein shakes and the day I could eat enough food and not have a protein shake I stopped and have never had one again. Everything was fine. I tried every trick, the cheese sauce, the unflavored protein powder, every brand and flavor of shakes, etc. Hated them all. I stopped as soon as I could eat chicken and eggs to get protein. You should be fine as long as you are eating all protein.

I threw up for two days and could basically drink nothing. My surgeon told me that ice chips and ice were actually pretty hard to digest because there are no enzymes in it to help your stomach break it down. He suggested decaf. tea as the best thing to drink. When I got home, I could only manage sugar free popsicles for a few days. A week later I was fine, drinking protein etc. Water still doesn't sit as well as decaf. tea. I especially liked Tazo Orange Herbal tea. Good luck! It is worth it.

Thank you all so much for your advice and thoughtful opinons. I feel better having admitted my problems on here. It is tough to face the gain because I don't want to go back to where I was. Thanks for the encouragement. It has only been three days but I am down two pounds! I do think weighing myself regularly is key so I don't get this surprise again. That was a habit I had been following before my long summer vacation which brought on the gain. I am stepping up my exercise and going back to the eating habits that worked. Trying to keep the cheese in moderation. Nuts too! The nutritionist at our support group meeting said nuts are fine but only in moderation (like the cheese). If I need to nibble I guess it should be veggies. I truly do appreciate your help. Thanks so much. You have all helped me calm down and focus.

They usually say two weeks off of work. I think I would have needed three (I wasn't working, had mine during my summer vacation!). Don't know if being 15 makes a difference. It is a big change. Good luck to you!

Before I tried a string cheese I would try those mushy laughing cow string cheeses. They were the first foods I ate. They went down nicely. I can't eat them now, they make me naseous just thinking about them. But I LOVED them when they were the only think I could eat.

Most women lose their hair and there is almost nothing you can do about it. I bought the Nioxin and the Biotin. Neither worked. My hair just kept falling out and falling out. But, thankfully it stopped after a few months of it falling out. My surgeon told us it is our hormones that cause the hair loss. He said it rarely happens to the men in his practice. They think it is actually our body shedding the hormones stored in our fat cells. He compared it to post pregnancy. A lot of women lose their hair after having a baby due to a hormonal change. You can try the Nioxin and Biotin. I think I wasted my money. I do take Biotin now to help with the regrowth though. I do notice a difference in my nails, they are stronger.

I am a teacher as well and had sleeve surgery over the summer. While I am pretty open with people who comment about my weight loss and the whole school staff knows, I didn't get a lot of comments either .I am positive my students (2nd grade) didn't notice me melting away right in front of their eyes. Very few parents commented. A few did. I I have lost 78 pounds in the past year and I am just a few pounds from my goal. Now more people are commenting. Just enjoy your weight loss! Soon, people will notice how great you are looking. I remember thinking I wish I realized how little people noticed my body before I lost weight. I was sure everyone noticed every pound I gained. I was obsessed worrying what people were thinking about me! I am sure you are looking better and better each day! Enjoy your weight loss!

I have a glass or two of wine on the weekends starting about 6 months after surgery. I am a lightweight, I get tipsy very quickly so I never drive when I drink. I have never been much of a hard liquor drinker, so I haven't tried it post surgery. I have had beer on a few occasions and it also went down smoothly. I think you can add it back into your life after some time in moderation with low calorie mixers.

I understand your reluctance. I was very uncomfortable telling people prior to my surgery.Mostly, because I guess I was embarrassed that I was so fat I needed WLS! I only told my family and a few close friends that I was considering it. But, once I made my date for surgery I told my friends and family as I saw them. I knew I didn't want to be Starr Jones and hide it when it will be obvious to anyone really paying attention to me. I didn't want people gossiping about me. Losing a drastic amount in a short time is a clear indication you have had weight loss surgery. I have heard more than a few conversations about people who are suspected of having weight loss surgery. It is usually quite obvious even if you don't tell people. Then they are left to wonder why it is such a big secret. So knowing this, despite being slightly uncomfortable I went ahead and told people. I don't like attention so that was hard too. I have been a teacher at the same school for over 10 years. I knew people would notice and ask questions so I have been open with parents when they ask. People have been very respectful and supportive. The more weight I have lost and the more comfortable I am with myself the easier it is to tell people. I am not reluctant to share it with anyone now. Good luck to you!

I still have my boobs. They are pretty saggy, but they are there. I was wearing a 42DDD before surgery. I was just fitted at Nordstrom. Since, my boobs are still very big, my size changed depending on the brand. I bought three bras with the help of a fitter. (All at once) I was a 34 FFFF, a 36 G and a 36 H depending on the brand. So, I still have a large bust, I had one before I gained the weight. They just don't look as good as they once did but not as bad as I predicted! I am also 40 years old, so gravity is setting in. If you are younger, they might look perkier.

I woke up throwing up. I continued to throw up post op for a few hours. I barely remember this. Then they wheeled me into my room. I continued to throw up for all night. I couldn't drink anything. I finally started to be able to get decaf tea down the second night in the hospital. Honestly, it wasn't that bad and the pain medication worked. I felt pretty good. But, I have a very sensitive stomach and I wasn't surprised that surgery medication would make me naseous. They stopped my vomiting in post-op with medication but it began again in my room. They finally put me back on the strongest medication to stop vomiting (I think it was called phlegren?) on day 2. Even though it sounds bad, it wasn't that bad. I just wish I spoke up to my idiot nurse the first night. She left me vomiting all night and even laughed at me when the vomit was coming out of my nose. She was not helpful at all. When she left and the new nurse came on duty everything got better. I wanted to ask for a new nurse or to see someone else, but I didn't want to be a pain. My advice is to speak up! Even though I stayed an extra night in the hospital, I too was at the local fair one week later walking around. It is surprising how quick you recover. Good luck to you!

I had the same issue. My surgeon told me it was not OK if I hadn't gone in a week. I called and he advised me to Milk of Magnesia. It worked. It if didn't work, they wanted me to contact them again.

I teach 2nd grade. I had WLS over the summer. Not one kid in my class has noticed the weight loss. I am open with everyone else. But, didn't want to discuss it with the kids. They know I eat healthy food and don't drink coffee and soda.

I am so sorry you are having a hard time with the cravings for food. I also was depressed after my surgery for a few weeks. I think I was really mourning food.I was sad I couldn't just quit the hideous diet! I also HATED the shakes. I never have liked sweets either. I can't remember that I did anything about it, but I got through it. This is a very tough phase emotionally. It was for me at least. But, the only thing I have to tell you is it will get better, you will get off the shakes fairly soon, and life gets a lot easier and more enjoyable when you can eat soft foods. Good luck to you! Pretty soon you will be able to try some other food. I didn't have anything but unsweetened passion iced tea from starbucks and those protein drinks. The day I no longer had to do the protein drinks, was a glorious day! I had one again. I do think I had keifer milk. It isn't sweet and was something different. I liked that for a while. If it is too plain you can add some of those Mio drops in the keifer milk, but if you don't like sweets you might not need that. Good luck to you, it will get better.

I am a second grade teacher. I was sleeved over the summer and school started four weeks after surgery. I was definitely ready to work after four weeks off. I actually felt I needed to work because I was a little anxious sitting at home thinking about what I couldn't eat. I was happy to be back in my routine and that I had something to think about besides the surgery! Being a kindergarten teacher, I think I might take three weeks off. I felt great after three weeks physically. Just no heavy lifting. The only problem was I was forgetful and a little airheaded for a couple of months after surgery. I told my principal I had weight loss surgery after I had it. She was very supportive. I also shared it with everyone on my staff. For me, I didn't tell anyone at work I was thinking of the surgery, but once I scheduled surgery I told people as I saw them. I was a little uncomfortable telling people but I would much rather be honest and open than have people whispering and gossiping later. Also, I was a little ashamed presurgery having to acknowledge that I was so fat I needed weight loss surgery. That was hard for me to admit, so when I told people I felt a little exposed. But, every single person I have told at school from parents to staff have all been very supportive.It is also nice because I don't get any candy or chocolates for presents anymore! I only tell parents if they comment on my weight loss and ask how I have lost, but the word has obviously spread around in the parent group. Some parents even bring me my favorite post surgery passion iced tea from Starbucks! Overwhelming support is all I received. But, I did tell most coworkers after the fact. The funny thing is I don't think any of my students have noticed that their teacher has been shrinking and shrinking all year!! You do have every right not to share why you are on leave. So, do what you are comfortable with. Just wanted you to know that my experience of being open and honest has been great. I also like that I don't have to keep up with vauge reasons for my absence or my weight loss. Good luck to you! I am so happy for you! And don't wait until summer, get the surgery now and feel great this summer! I am so happy with this change, this sleeve has made me such a happier and healthier person! I love life post-sleeve! I hope you do as well. Good luck to you!

I was very airheaded for the first few months after surgery. I forgot everything. I even pumped gas into my gas tank and drove away with it still attached! But, my mind has come back. I have no idea why I was so airheaded, but I was. I also felt tingling in my hands and legs. That also went away.

It seems as if we have all learned something different about the hair loss.This is what I learned from my surgeon. He says that hairloss is completely hormonal. Therefore, it really doesn't happen to men. He said that Drs. used to think it was Protein, or trauma from surgery, etc. He says the new thinking is that is a hormonal change in your body causing you to lose hair, much like a woman does after she gives birth. He says that hormones are stored in fat cells. As we lose weight our horomnes change. He also believes this to be true because he has performed the surgery over 1,000 times and it is mostly women that lose their hair. So, if you are a man I wouldn't worry too much. Any hair loss would probably just be regular male patterend baldness that would have happened if you had the surgery or not. As a side note, I was very worried about losing my hair. I have VERY thin hair. I didn't think my head could stand to lose hair, I started obsessing over it before surgery. It happened, my hair started massively falling out around three months. It is slowing down now. I don't regret the surgery at all. I got a new hairstyle that masks the hair loss a bit. But being skinny with pretty thin hair is WAY better than being fat with more hair. Good luck to you!

We had a plastic surgeon come to our Bariatric Support Group meeting. He said that people shouldn't have plastic surgery for at least about 18 months after surgery, just to be sure you have lost most of your weight. Then he said breast lifts and reductions are quite common and may be covered by some insurances. He said most people don't need implants to get a lift, they can acheive the lift by cutting away skin.

I did everything under the sun to keep my hair from falling out and the hair keeps just falling out. Nioxin, biotin, etc. I was told by my doctor that it was really a hormonal thing and there wasn't much I could do to prevent it. He also told me it doesn't really happen to men. But since I was so upset I started trying evverything. My advice, save your money. It is going to fall out no matter what. I am 6 months out and I am not losing as much hair as I once was. So, I think it is growing back. I have thin hair to begin with, so I really noticed the hair loss. My hairdresser was great at giving me a new hairstyle and teaching me how to style it to mask the hair loss. That was worth the money. The shampoos, vitamins, etc. were just a massive waste of money. Good luck. I just keep thinking it will grow back soon.

My favorite drink by far is Starbucks Passion Iced Tea. If you order it unsweetened it is calorie free/ caffeine free. I can't get enough of it. Delicious.

I couldn't tolerate any liquids for a couple of days. I survived on sugar free popsicles. They are a great way to get your liquid in. I talked to my surgeon and he said that water is actually one of the more difficult liquids to digest because there are not any enzymes in it to help your stomach break it down. He told me decaf tea is the easiest thing for your stomach to take after surgery. Sounds like you are already doing it. I too loved water before surgery. I am 6 months out and I am finally able to handle it better. I always find I can drink more if it is warm too.

I think it is totally normal to be anxious before making such a big change and undergoing surgery. I didn't think I felt anxious either, but now I realize I was nervous and overprepared. I went out shopping and bought everything I could think of to be prepared for life after surgery. Popsciles, Protein shakes, Vitamins, etc. I didn't use half the things. I think it was a way of calming my nerves even thought I didn't think I was nervous. The night before surgery I suddnely got paranoid about a catheder. Were they going to use one? (They didn't.) I think it is a big change and it is normal be not completely aware of your nervousness because you know you are making a good decision and are also excited. Good luck to you! I had my surgery 6 months ago and it was the best thing I have ever done! Greatest decision ever! I am so much happier, lighter, I feel so much healthier. I wish you the best!

I would be happy to participate as well!