COnative

I just wanted to say thank you for sharing your story. I think you are right in saying that we shouldn't expect the surgery to do all the work. It has been work for me, that is for sure. I wish you all the success you deserve. I have heard on here several times that people have gone back and actually get re-sleeved to a smaller sleeve. I don't know if that is even an option. I truly wish you the best and thanks again for sharing.

I just wanted to say thank you for sharing your story. I think you are right in saying that we shouldn't expect the surgery to do all the work. It has been work for me, that is for sure. I wish you all the success you deserve. I have heard on here several times that people have gone back and actually get re-sleeved to a smaller sleeve. I don't know if that is even an option. I truly wish you the best and thanks again for sharing.

I would love to see a tab at the very top of the page where we have Forum, Community, Photos. And have a tab that is labeled "frequent questions' and in the pull down menu: stalls, Hair loss, Vitamin ideas, Protein Shake debate. I don't know if this will help. Or if there is a tab for frequent questions and then it pulls up a search where you can enter your question easier and get answers faster from previous posts? But you kind of have that already. hmmmmm.
Somehow it is getting missed.
Thanks! And I am looking forward to the new version of VST!

I have had panic attacks since I was a kid. The only word for them is they SUCK! If you've never experienced one you are blessed.
I have never had problems with blood pressure, (I think that's your question) of course when I have a panic attack my blood pressure goes through the roof and yes I feel like I am either going to have a heart attack or a blood vessel is going to pop in my head. But with time, and experiencing 100's of them I realized I either need to take something before it gets out of control or wait it out.
I think you are going to be so happy with the results from surgery and feeling good about yourself and being healthier really keeps the panic attacks to a MINIMUM. Hang in there. I really hope things get better for you.

Hi! Well I started at 220 and now I've been stuck at 165 since January. I would love to be 155 but I am actually perfectly happy at 165. Plus I haven't been 155 since high school and that is over 20 years ago! I have to admit that I am still really scared that the weight will come back because I have been fat and skinny, now, 5 times. But hopefully by having the surgery it will eliminate this.That is my hope.

I'm 5'7.
Starting weight: 338
DOS: (5-18-12) 288
Current weight: 195
Total lost: 143 pounds. 25 pounds & corset trunkplasty to get to goal.

I'm 5'6" and just turned 50. Ten years ago I got to my highest weight of 255 lbs so I went on a diet and got down to 190 lbs. I then kept my weight between 190 and 210, but this past year got up to 235.
Surgery weight on 12/18/2012 was 235 lbs. Today I weigh 192 lbs, so I've lost 43 lbs.
My goal weight on my ticker says 140 lbs. but I have a feeling 155-165 will be my ideal weight.
I love my sleeve as it's so much easier for me to lose weight without the constant hunger pains. Another big plus is when out in a restaurant - being only able to eat 1/4 of my meal.

Correct. I feel great that's what's so wired. I have a ton of energy which in the past all I wanted to do was sleep if I wasn't at work...

I am 5'6" and pre op weight was 232. I was 208 day of surgery (October 4, 2011). I lost the majority of my weight by the 6 th month. Today I'm almost 19 months post opt and am pretty much at goal. I love my sleeve.

Wow everyone is doing fantastic! It's nice to search out similar heights because that usually means we have similar goal weights. I'd say anywhere btwn 147-165? Is that safe to say? Good luck with all of your journeys! Any tips or tricks to break those stalls or anything else to share please do. These posts made my day;)

I'm 5'7". Starting weight was 251 and am at goal at 165. Took 9 months to get there. My original goal was 150, but I am very happy where I am and think I would look way gaunt any thinner. My doctor, family and friends agree.
I like how I look in my clothes, I just try not to dwell on how I look naked

I'm 5'8" and was 237 starting my pre-op diet in January. Surgery day 2/4/13 I was 223.5. Today I am 200.2. This is my lowest weight in 9 years! Hope to keep losing 10lbs. a month. Believe it is do-able with exercise. (Thank you Jillian Michaels!)
Goal weight is 145 (college weight). It's been 20 YEARS since I have weighed in the 140s.
The weight is becoming less important to me than my fitness and how my clothes are fitting. Those are more exciting measures to me than a number on the scale.

Hi! Well I started at 220 and now I've been stuck at 165 since January. I would love to be 155 but I am actually perfectly happy at 165. Plus I haven't been 155 since high school and that is over 20 years ago! I have to admit that I am still really scared that the weight will come back because I have been fat and skinny, now, 5 times. But hopefully by having the surgery it will eliminate this.That is my hope.

Hi! Well I started at 220 and now I've been stuck at 165 since January. I would love to be 155 but I am actually perfectly happy at 165. Plus I haven't been 155 since high school and that is over 20 years ago! I have to admit that I am still really scared that the weight will come back because I have been fat and skinny, now, 5 times. But hopefully by having the surgery it will eliminate this.That is my hope.

Around the 6 month mark, I started slowing down in weight loss. I have only lost a few pounds since then. But I was really close to goal. This is frustrating especially if you have a lot more to lose. But it will keep coming off and you will have stalls. the weight does come off at a slower rate, but it does come off. You calories sound good, so maybe check with your NUT and see what he/she has to say....And let us know. Keep up the good work and CONGRATS! You are a success story.....

There are a lot of opinions about calories out there, so take this with a grain of salt - but personally I think your caloric intake is way too low. I was sleeved 6 days after you and my doctor and nut want me up to 1200-1500. I manage 1000-1200 most days. I've lost about 59lbs. The only stall I've had was one week when I didn't lose. Other than that, I score a loss (albeit some weeks a small one) every week.
You may want to try and up your calories for a couple of weeks (still prioritize Protein over carbs) and see what happens.

There are a small number of surgeons in Mexico that perform the spider technique. But it does have it’s drawbacks. I considered it and researched it when I had my surgery. A reputable surgeon will tell you that you have to have a BMI below 40 and be otherwise low risk. That’s a little tricky for those of us large people. We are already a higher risk than normal weight people. The surgery takes longer so that increases the risk. Plus I was told that the surgeons vision is decreased because of only 1 hole. That makes sense I guess. I read in one of the articles about it is not for everyone because even if your BMI is under 40 there could be other reasons they can’t do it. Like too much belly fat or a large liver.

My doctor did mine using only 3 incisions and they are very small. I had my surgery with Dr. Alejandro Lopez and Dr. Elais Ortiz. When I pressed Dr. Lopez on the spider, he said that there really is not a lot of difference in the recovery from 3 incisions and 1 incision. I just thought I didn’t want to take the risk.

My doctor was charging $500 more for that technique and it just wasn’t worth it to me. But the main reason is that I just didn’t want to have an increased risk just to save myself 2 one half inch hardly noticeable scars.

Happy trails!

Thanks for this informative link!

I started losing my hair at month 3 and didn't stop until month 5. I didn't find anything that helped- I just felt lucky that I had really thick hair. I've been told it will grow back. I sure hope so. Sorry I can't offer help just wanted to share my experience. There is also a good website that offers explanation and maybe perhaps help. Here it is: http://www.slhn.org/docs/pdf/bariatric_surgery_and_hair_loss.designed.pdf

Yes, you can actually eat there and not blow you post op eating plans. Look at their 550 calories or less menu. There are wonderful options full of taste from many different spices and flavor. There is enough to make 2-3 meals depending on post op time after DOS within the solids phase. Yummy!

It's so not healthy, but my NUT said it was fine as long as I limit to one 3oz serving per day. I did substitute half and half for heavy cream (fat free Greek yogurt mixed with fat free half and half also works) and I Can't Believe It's Not Butter for the unsalted butter. I will probably limit more when no longer on full liquids.< /p>
Ingredients
1 C. flour
1/4 lb. unsalted butter
2 1/2 quarts chicken stock
2 quarts heavy cream
1/2 lb. Brie cheese, peeled and cubed
1/2 Tbs. white pepper
1/4 tsp. red pepper
1 lb. lump crabmeat
Directions
To make the roux, melt butter and add flour, stir until well combined. Cook roux to desired color. Remove roux and allow to cool to room temperature. (A lighter color roux yields a lighter color Soup.)
Bring stock to cooking temperature and slowly add cream. Stir until fully combined. Reduce by 10%. Add the roux and stir gently to combine. Bring to a gentle boil; this will develop the roux. Reduce the temperature of the kettle when it begins to boil. Watch that it doesn't boil over. When thickened, add cheese and stir until fully melted. Texture should be smooth and well combined. Season with peppers and salt to taste. Gently fold in crabmeat.
If you are, like me, still on full liquids, blend the hell out of individual servings! Don't do the whole Soup because soon you'll be able to have the delicious crab.
To add more Protein, powders? utm_source=BariatricPal&utm_medium=Affiliate&utm_campaign=CommentLink" target="_ad" data-id="1" >unjury unflavored disappeared in my individual 3 ox serving.
Final tip: it feels sinful to waste, so make yourself a 2.5 oz serving, in case 3 oz is too much. That way you don't get sick from that "last bite."
Yield: 10-12 generous servings. (For us, probably about 30 servings, lol!) It does freeze well. I am freezing some of mine in 4oz RubberMade containers, and taking the extras to a friend with a new baby.)