KatieOkieDokie

I knew it was time for a major change when I found myself feeling as though I was watching the world go on around because I couldn't get up and move! I'm 32 years old, I live at home with my parents who support me..I do not have a job (who would want to hire someone who can't stand for more than a few seconds to minutes at a time..believe me I tried, I've had several interviews). I dropped out of nursing school right before clinical started because I knew I couldn't do the physical side of the job. I was basically watching my life slip away right before my eyes. I'm tired of being in pain, and I'm in pain every single day..if it's my back, hips, knees, feet and ankle to skin rashes. I'm always tired, and worn out. I'm carrying myself plus two other people on my body! Fearing my heart is going to go give out on me. I don't want to have to take medication for the rest of my life.
I really just want to start my life, to have one of my own! To be able to walk without being in pain, or out of breath or dreading it. To play with my nephews instead of just watching them from a chair. To go to Kings Island and ride the rides. To go to a concert and not worry about not having a place to sit because I won't fit. Or a local show and know I can go up close to the stage and stand and not be in pain. To go swimming and not have to wear regular clothes into the swimming pool, trying to pass them off as swimming clothes because I can't find any to fit me. The list goes on and on.
I haven't had the surgery yet. I am self pay, no insurance (I have no job), and I can't get financing (no job) I really wish my parents would help out some because the surgery would be life changing for me. They know this. But they feel trapped money wise too. I'm praying that something happens, a door opens, and I get some help. I never thought having surgery would be a dream of mine, and something I want so bad. But this is... because I know it will offer me life.

I knew it was time for a major change when I found myself feeling as though I was watching the world go on around because I couldn't get up and move! I'm 32 years old, I live at home with my parents who support me..I do not have a job (who would want to hire someone who can't stand for more than a few seconds to minutes at a time..believe me I tried, I've had several interviews). I dropped out of nursing school right before clinical started because I knew I couldn't do the physical side of the job. I was basically watching my life slip away right before my eyes. I'm tired of being in pain, and I'm in pain every single day..if it's my back, hips, knees, feet and ankle to skin rashes. I'm always tired, and worn out. I'm carrying myself plus two other people on my body! Fearing my heart is going to go give out on me. I don't want to have to take medication for the rest of my life.
I really just want to start my life, to have one of my own! To be able to walk without being in pain, or out of breath or dreading it. To play with my nephews instead of just watching them from a chair. To go to Kings Island and ride the rides. To go to a concert and not worry about not having a place to sit because I won't fit. Or a local show and know I can go up close to the stage and stand and not be in pain. To go swimming and not have to wear regular clothes into the swimming pool, trying to pass them off as swimming clothes because I can't find any to fit me. The list goes on and on.
I haven't had the surgery yet. I am self pay, no insurance (I have no job), and I can't get financing (no job) I really wish my parents would help out some because the surgery would be life changing for me. They know this. But they feel trapped money wise too. I'm praying that something happens, a door opens, and I get some help. I never thought having surgery would be a dream of mine, and something I want so bad. But this is... because I know it will offer me life.

I knew it was time for a major change when I found myself feeling as though I was watching the world go on around because I couldn't get up and move! I'm 32 years old, I live at home with my parents who support me..I do not have a job (who would want to hire someone who can't stand for more than a few seconds to minutes at a time..believe me I tried, I've had several interviews). I dropped out of nursing school right before clinical started because I knew I couldn't do the physical side of the job. I was basically watching my life slip away right before my eyes. I'm tired of being in pain, and I'm in pain every single day..if it's my back, hips, knees, feet and ankle to skin rashes. I'm always tired, and worn out. I'm carrying myself plus two other people on my body! Fearing my heart is going to go give out on me. I don't want to have to take medication for the rest of my life.
I really just want to start my life, to have one of my own! To be able to walk without being in pain, or out of breath or dreading it. To play with my nephews instead of just watching them from a chair. To go to Kings Island and ride the rides. To go to a concert and not worry about not having a place to sit because I won't fit. Or a local show and know I can go up close to the stage and stand and not be in pain. To go swimming and not have to wear regular clothes into the swimming pool, trying to pass them off as swimming clothes because I can't find any to fit me. The list goes on and on.
I haven't had the surgery yet. I am self pay, no insurance (I have no job), and I can't get financing (no job) I really wish my parents would help out some because the surgery would be life changing for me. They know this. But they feel trapped money wise too. I'm praying that something happens, a door opens, and I get some help. I never thought having surgery would be a dream of mine, and something I want so bad. But this is... because I know it will offer me life.

I knew it was time for a major change when I found myself feeling as though I was watching the world go on around because I couldn't get up and move! I'm 32 years old, I live at home with my parents who support me..I do not have a job (who would want to hire someone who can't stand for more than a few seconds to minutes at a time..believe me I tried, I've had several interviews). I dropped out of nursing school right before clinical started because I knew I couldn't do the physical side of the job. I was basically watching my life slip away right before my eyes. I'm tired of being in pain, and I'm in pain every single day..if it's my back, hips, knees, feet and ankle to skin rashes. I'm always tired, and worn out. I'm carrying myself plus two other people on my body! Fearing my heart is going to go give out on me. I don't want to have to take medication for the rest of my life.
I really just want to start my life, to have one of my own! To be able to walk without being in pain, or out of breath or dreading it. To play with my nephews instead of just watching them from a chair. To go to Kings Island and ride the rides. To go to a concert and not worry about not having a place to sit because I won't fit. Or a local show and know I can go up close to the stage and stand and not be in pain. To go swimming and not have to wear regular clothes into the swimming pool, trying to pass them off as swimming clothes because I can't find any to fit me. The list goes on and on.
I haven't had the surgery yet. I am self pay, no insurance (I have no job), and I can't get financing (no job) I really wish my parents would help out some because the surgery would be life changing for me. They know this. But they feel trapped money wise too. I'm praying that something happens, a door opens, and I get some help. I never thought having surgery would be a dream of mine, and something I want so bad. But this is... because I know it will offer me life.

I knew it was time for a major change when I found myself feeling as though I was watching the world go on around because I couldn't get up and move! I'm 32 years old, I live at home with my parents who support me..I do not have a job (who would want to hire someone who can't stand for more than a few seconds to minutes at a time..believe me I tried, I've had several interviews). I dropped out of nursing school right before clinical started because I knew I couldn't do the physical side of the job. I was basically watching my life slip away right before my eyes. I'm tired of being in pain, and I'm in pain every single day..if it's my back, hips, knees, feet and ankle to skin rashes. I'm always tired, and worn out. I'm carrying myself plus two other people on my body! Fearing my heart is going to go give out on me. I don't want to have to take medication for the rest of my life.
I really just want to start my life, to have one of my own! To be able to walk without being in pain, or out of breath or dreading it. To play with my nephews instead of just watching them from a chair. To go to Kings Island and ride the rides. To go to a concert and not worry about not having a place to sit because I won't fit. Or a local show and know I can go up close to the stage and stand and not be in pain. To go swimming and not have to wear regular clothes into the swimming pool, trying to pass them off as swimming clothes because I can't find any to fit me. The list goes on and on.
I haven't had the surgery yet. I am self pay, no insurance (I have no job), and I can't get financing (no job) I really wish my parents would help out some because the surgery would be life changing for me. They know this. But they feel trapped money wise too. I'm praying that something happens, a door opens, and I get some help. I never thought having surgery would be a dream of mine, and something I want so bad. But this is... because I know it will offer me life.

Hello! My name is Katie. I am 32 years old, single and I have no children. I am very proud bird nerd, and amature photographer, whose trying to decide if she wants to finish her degree in Nursing, or Social Services, or both! I live with my parents stil, I struggle a lot. I have one brother whose married to a wonderful wife whose the sister I never had! They have two little boys who are my world! I love my nephews to death!
I am an animal, nature, lover! I am most happy sitting outside taking in the sun rays, and enjoy the beauty around me!
I live near Dayton Ohio.
I have yet to have surgery, so I haven't officially joined the losers bench. I am working toward it though, slowly one step at a time (would have had it done 6 months ago if I could have).

I knew it was time for a major change when I found myself feeling as though I was watching the world go on around because I couldn't get up and move! I'm 32 years old, I live at home with my parents who support me..I do not have a job (who would want to hire someone who can't stand for more than a few seconds to minutes at a time..believe me I tried, I've had several interviews). I dropped out of nursing school right before clinical started because I knew I couldn't do the physical side of the job. I was basically watching my life slip away right before my eyes. I'm tired of being in pain, and I'm in pain every single day..if it's my back, hips, knees, feet and ankle to skin rashes. I'm always tired, and worn out. I'm carrying myself plus two other people on my body! Fearing my heart is going to go give out on me. I don't want to have to take medication for the rest of my life.
I really just want to start my life, to have one of my own! To be able to walk without being in pain, or out of breath or dreading it. To play with my nephews instead of just watching them from a chair. To go to Kings Island and ride the rides. To go to a concert and not worry about not having a place to sit because I won't fit. Or a local show and know I can go up close to the stage and stand and not be in pain. To go swimming and not have to wear regular clothes into the swimming pool, trying to pass them off as swimming clothes because I can't find any to fit me. The list goes on and on.
I haven't had the surgery yet. I am self pay, no insurance (I have no job), and I can't get financing (no job) I really wish my parents would help out some because the surgery would be life changing for me. They know this. But they feel trapped money wise too. I'm praying that something happens, a door opens, and I get some help. I never thought having surgery would be a dream of mine, and something I want so bad. But this is... because I know it will offer me life.

Hey OP (Original poster) how are you feeling today? Any better? I hope so! I hope today you woke up feeling wonderful! But if not I pray that day by day it gets a little more easy for you!
I understand why you posted! The one reason I LOVE this site is I get BOTH the good the bad and the ugly (I listed 3 things..lol). But it's good to know that things don't always go smooth, that people react to the surgery, and sometimes medication differently.. Leaks can happen, bleeding, pain, getting sick. etc. etc.. and the good can happen too! There is nothing wrong with letting people know I am pre-sleeve probably will be sleeved around March and I want to know what can go good and bad!

May I ask what caused the internal bleeding, and was you having kidney issues before the surgery and the internal bleeding worsen it, or was it a direct side effect of the internal bleeding?

After surgery I weighed myself every week. Then I started to obsess over it and start to weigh myself every day. That got way to out of hand and I relied too much on that number. So I weighed myself once a month for a long time. Then I hit under 300 and couldn't believe that I weighed that much! I was shocked. I hadn't weighed under 300 lbs since high school! So I started to weigh every day again. More to see a number under 300!! That was probably two months ago! I still weigh every day. And every day I am shocked by the number even if I don't lose. I'm still shocked. It's like I don't believe I've lost this much, and weigh less than 300 lbs! lol.
Also you will have stalls! They SUCK! Are no fun. Don't get discouraged. Instead of checking your weight..measure yourself. Every time that I have stalled I've dropped inches like crazy! I was so confused during my first stall because I wasn't losing any weight but my clothes was still getting smaller. They tell you you'll stall, but they don't tell you (at least they didn't me) that when I stall I'll still lose inches. lol.

OMG I KNOW exactaly what you are saying! I hate when people ask me what I have been doing to lose weight and when I tell them I eat healthy, and don't drink pop, they make up excuses or get mad! Sorry I can't help it if that's what I did. lol. But it's the truth! I get just as frustrated at them, as they do me!

OMG I KNOW exactaly what you are saying! I hate when people ask me what I have been doing to lose weight and when I tell them I eat healthy, and don't drink pop, they make up excuses or get mad! Sorry I can't help it if that's what I did. lol. But it's the truth! I get just as frustrated at them, as they do me!

I was self pay, I went into surgery at 11, and was home by 6 that night (I live 2 hrs from hospital). So they didn't even keep me 12 hrs. I had a really easy recovery though. No pain, and no issues.

First off, I'm not enjoying all the attention from my weight loss. I lost 35 on my pre-op and another 20 since surgery; this has been over a total of 5-6 months, so not a rapid weight loss necessarily. Some people have known of my efforts and ask what I'm doing (pre-op was low carb, low sugar, low calorie....kinda the same as post op actually! And regular exercise of course). I log every bite I eat on my fitness pal. That is my number 1 weight loss tip to anyone. We just don't realize how many calories we are eating even when we think we are eating okay. Every single person who has asked for tips has responded the same way..Oh, I'm on my fitness pal, too, but I know I don't eat as many calories as it says I can. I don't need to log, I just know.....or....I'm sure I only eat 1000 calories a day, I don't know why I can't lose weight. Well, honey, I just watched you polish off a huge plate of food and a cupcake. That was almost 1000 calories right there! Don't whine to me if you don't wanna log for yourself. We are all accountable for what goes in our mouths, whether we are sleeved or not. Don't ask because you don't wanna hear what I have to say anyways. Sorry for the rant session, I'm done now that it's off my chest.

Do you take antacid? I read somewhere that acid in the stomach post op can sometimes be interpreted as hunger.. Ask your doc just to be sure. Im also a few days post op and i have to set my phone alarm just to remind myself to eat.. I dont feel hungry at all.

Not losing is ALWAYS better than gaining! But what's most important to remember is that your body is going through a lot of changes, and sometimes it takes it sometime to catch up with these changes. I did not stall in week 3 and 4.. I gained. Actually between weeks 3 and 6 I gained back everything I lost in the first 3 weeks! It was awful. I was having a lot of issues with going to the bathroom, getting my protien in and getting my Water in. I was really dehydrated. Once I got my body working like it should I started to lose again, and contiuned to lose until I was 9 months out, when I hit my first stall. That lasted 2 months. Two long months of seeing no changes on the scale. However, while i wasn't losing weight, I was losing inches like crazy! I dropped several inches and two dress sizes during those two months, without losing a pound. The number on the scale isn't the only important number to watch, so is your inches! So watch those too!!
You should really take something to get your bowels moving. Make sure you're getting your Water and protien also... and move move move! Not only will walking and working out help with the weight loss it will also help move your bowels! And I hate to tell you this, but this won't be the only stall you have! You'll have more.

Hello everyone. I am a daily reader on this site but I rarely submit any posts. Today I am deciding to share my progress. I had my surgery on 9/16. I started my 2 week liquid diet on 9/3 with a weight of 312. Day of surgery I was 296. As of today I am down to 236. Here are some pics of my progress..

      

Some women retain Water when they have their period. Try adding lemon (real not just juice) to your water. It's a natural way to shed that extra water. Also really watch your sodium intake during your cycle. Hope this helps :-)

Yeah! 5-8 even!

The only thing that's bothered me has been certain kinds of cuts when it comes to beef, and pork, and Pasta. Other that that I can tolerate everything. However, my taste buds have changed, and I'm really sensitive to sweets. I have tried everything too. Guilty. I don't like the taste of chocolate, pizza, or any fast food! I'll stick to my chicken, and veggies please lol.

The only thing that's bothered me has been certain kinds of cuts when it comes to beef, and pork, and Pasta. Other that that I can tolerate everything. However, my taste buds have changed, and I'm really sensitive to sweets. I have tried everything too. Guilty. I don't like the taste of chocolate, pizza, or any fast food! I'll stick to my chicken, and veggies please lol.

Do you track your measurements? I know how it's very frustrating when in a stall mode. Also, do you use MFP at all? I'm sure if you're tracking food intake that it may help if others could view it and possibly make some suggestions. If you are not tracking what you eat, see Alex's recent article on "Are Hidden Calories Holding Back Your Weight Loss" under WLS Magazine articles. I'm not nearly as advanced in the post-op side as you, but just went through a 2 week stall, and now just coming out of it. I've been adjusting my exercise regime just this last week to help with the stall. In my case, I wasn't getting enough fuel (food) into my body with the strenuous exercise I was doing 5 days a week and had to tone it down a bit, because I wasn't getting more calories in (yay for the sleeve!) unless I started eating junk food, and I'm not going down that road again!

I do not focus on the scale not moving. Keep eating right, working out, and focus on your weight loss, enjoying the already new you. The constant stall cries of help let me know this is something I would go through, like everyone else. I am sooooooo happy with 50 lbs. dropping off my behind lol!!!!!
You might want to change your diet around a little, and maybe you are eating some things you could do without. If you are straying now and then......that might be a problem. Some days I just do yogurt and shakes when I feel I ate too much the day before. Also, I was told by the NUT last week to eat more veggies. Have you discussed with your NUT? Best of luck to you!

You cannot compare yourself with others as each of us have different bodies and there is difference between the conditions, diet, etc also. So, I would say you should have patience. However, if you feel that you are not experiencing any improvement then you should consult your doctor. Hope it helps.

My surgery was just a short time before yours and I'm still losing, but very, very slowly now. I can eat a lot more than I could in the beginning as well, however, just because you CAN eat more doesn't mean you SHOULD eat more. I feel sure that if I tried to eat as much as I could (which is the behavior that caused me to become so grossly obese to begin with) my weight loss would completely stop and I'd probably start gaining. I personally don't allow myself to eat things like flour tortillas simply because they're absolutely horrible in the calorie/carbohydrate/fat department and I avoid fast food joints as much as possible because most all of them serve nothing but fried garbage that hides behind slick marketing terms like "low carb". According to nutritiondata.self.com, one low carb breakfast bowl at Hardee's contains 620 CALORIES and 50 GRAMS OF FAT ! There isn't a damn thing "healthy" about it and I wouldn't touch it with a 10 foot pole ! I also drink when I eat, which is a no no, but it works better for me that way. Even after having 80% of your stomach removed, it's still about making healthy, low fat, low calorie, SMALL PORTION, high Protein choices. WLS surgery is not a magic miracle fix that allows you to eat whatever you want or as much as you can possibly cram into your sleeve and still lose weight. You WILL stretch your sleeve if you aren't mindful about your portion sizes and you will NOT lose weight if you aren't mindful about your calorie intake. I know I didn't go through all this or spend all this money just to destroy my own chance of success by stuffing my face with things I know are calorie/carb/fat loaded; things I KNOW I shouldn't be eating. Those things are the exception, not the rule. I hope your stall breaks, and no, I don't think you need revision surgery, BUT... If you're eating burritos and breakfast bowls from fast food joints, it seems, in my humble opinion, that you just need to make better food choices and stop yourself from eating to max capacity at every meal. After all, poor food choices and over eating are two of the biggest reasons we got so fat to begin with ! It's essential to your success that you eliminate the old, bad food habits and bad food choices. I'm definitely not one of the health food only bean sprout eating diet fanatics either. I eat normal, regular food, but if you do what you always did before surgery, you'll continue to get what you always got before surgery: fatter and fatter. Please don't take offense, as none is intended; but given your described food choices and the big stall you're in, I feel a little fact reminder and tough love is in order. STOP eating things you know (or should know) aren't going to help with your weight loss. I've lost 125+ pounds in just under 14 months. Best of luck to you netbigfela Hang in there !