Izuri

I wish so bad that you had an "easy" gastric sleeve too. It is crazy the number of issues that you have had since you had the surgery and through them all you have always maintained your calm and composure. It is okay to be mad - what is happening, it's not right, you have been dealt a number of unlucky cards. But what I see time and again is that you are strong. After that time that you need to mourn your previous life and all of the awful experiences, you will be able to get back up and move forward. And if you need help, or just someone to vent to, I'm here for you. If you wanna just yell and scream, you are welcome to send me the angriest message about it all - just get it out and get it off your chest.

And I'm so sorry about your husband's job. I'm glad to hear though that you at least have a little bit of time to get things situated with the severance pay.

((((((HUG))))) You are in my thoughts and prayers and I cannot wait until things turn around for you.

Congratulations on your date, I'm so excited for you. Did you meet him online? I hope to have the self-confidence for a date one day.

Yeah, we did meet online. I really am pretty shy in person, so it gave us a chance to get to know each other a bit ahead of time.

So I was looking through your posts and you have this great topic posted on the 30th of July that says 4.5 months out - 80 pounds down. That means that you lost over an average of 4 pounds a week! That's incredible. Can you blame your body for needing some time to adjust? =) Stalls are crazy difficult things. I had a 3 week one when I was only 3 weeks out and I thought I was failing at another weight loss journey. Then one day it started moving again, simple as that. I think yours will be the same.

Look through your nutrition records - are you getting in all your protein still? All your water? Are you creeping up on calories?

I think the gastric sleeve is definitely for you. You didn't gain the weight over a six month period - to expect to lose it all that quick is not only not as healthy as losing slower, but you would have tons of loose skin! Do you measure? Are you losing inches in these three weeks? Maybe your skin is tighter than you'd be with RNY. Maybe you're healthier, have less vitamin deficiencies. Three weeks feels like forever, but in the scheme of things, it's really not. You are doing amazing. Don't give up.

You went to work nursing 9 days out from surgery? Wow. I would not have been ready to go back that soon. I waited four weeks til I went back, and then two more weeks until nursing school started again =) I was worried about being ready.

Congratulations on your loss! It sounds like you're doing awesome. Don't push yourself too hard - you deserve a little rest.

If you need a last meal - just go ahead and have it. My timing was kinda crazy, so I couldn't really get in a last meal and the first couple week post-op I felt like I'd cheated myself outta one. I don't feel like it anymore, but it just would have made the first couple weeks easier. Just make sure it doesn't turn into multiple last meals - which it doesn't sound like it will since you're doing awesome.

I could start walking immediately and they wanted me to walk at least once a day. I am not allowed to do any kind of actual workout for 6 weeks. It's hard to wait that long, I'm itching to do something other than walk!

I am so sorry for what you're going through, it sounds awful. =( (((((HUGS))))

I'm glad that you have sought medical attention - what your going through really makes it sound like something is very wrong. Did they do a leak test?

If you're still having problems is it possible for them to switch your antibiotic to liquid form? Many antibiotics are available in liquids It's not going to help if you can't even take the medicine, and I know some antibiotics can be like horse pills, very difficult to take. If you still cannot get them down, you should definitely let the doctors know that you are not getting them down, you may have to be readmitted to be given the medications IV. I know that sounds awful, but it will be worth it when your symptoms can finally clear up.

I wish I could help with the depression. I know right now is a very stressful time, and I can't even imagine how hard it is, but you are strong and worth getting through this.

Have you ever considered seeing a therapist? Do you have any family living with you or that are close by that might be able to spend a few days with you right now? You need some support right now to help get through this tough time. There is nothing wrong with needing someone to talk to.

Are you able to sip on meal replacement shakes? I know that boost has quite a bit of sugar, but you might want to ask your NUT if it would be okay to drink for a few days while you recuperate. It's thin and maybe will be easier to get down than protein shakes.

I'm really sorry that you're going through this, and if you need to vent or need a shoulder to lean on, we're here for you.

Thanks guys, I appreciate the kind words and encouragement. Though I'm not glad to hear that you guys have stalls too (I wouldn't wish them on anyone!), it's nice to have it reaffirmed that I'm not alone =p

I have been getting in my water and using the bathroom fine, but I do think I'm retaining water. I am just gonna continue to stick to my plan as diligently as I can - it can't last forever.

I am trying to limit my scale time, I put the scale away, but we have another in the house and it's just been very tempting. I will have to be stricter with myself about getting on it! I don't mind the variance over the day - I am sure throughout the day I fluctuate because of water and everything, but it's the day to day same weight that drives me nuts.

I'm looking forward to when it finally drops again =) I guess it will just make it all that much sweeter when it does.

Thank you again for all the kind words - it really helps!

Hey, I'm going through something similar and posted on this same thing this morning =) I think we're both stuck in the dreaded stall. From some threads I've seen a week, some I've seen a few weeks, but there's a light at the end of the tunnel. After I posted I realized I had to do something because I was driving myself nuts. I had to put the scale away somewhere I can't get to it easily. I have a new scale coming in the mail in 2.5 weeks and I'm just gonna try my best to stay off the scale until then. The stall we're going through is definitely normal.

I am having the same problem retaining liquids. It's probably at least in part due to our hormones going crazy.

I am getting in protein by loading up all protein all the time it seems like. I have at least one 4-6oz protein shake a day, a protein supplement drink (15g protein isopure zero carb) once, snacks of something like cottage cheese or yogurt, dinner is usually some kind of soft or ground meat/fish with some soft veggies, lunch is usually a leftover of dinner from the day before.

I am trying adding a fruit or two over the day, maybe to bump up my calories just a little. I'm averaging around 500 so I'm thinking if I step it up to 600-700 maybe my body will get itself out of panic mode.

We can do this! Hang in there. One day we'll wake up and it will finally come off.

I was scared about anasthesia awareness too. Thankfully, I didn't have it and it felt like no time at all and I was awake in the recovery room. It's a scary thing, but I'm sure you will have everything go fine.

Good job on eating only 25%! It's so difficult when you're around people who are eating more.

Maybe you will feel more comfortable at a gym when you've lost a bit =)

It will get better! I just recently started feeling comfortable enough with my body (this was pre-op) to get some capris. I have kinda adopted the mindset that I can only do so much and I'm not gonna suffocate myself in pants and a long shirt when it's 90 degrees out. I sometimes still have embarrassment when wearing them but I remind myself that if they don't like it they can look somewhere else.

Soon enough you will be flaunting a pretty bathing suit =)

Good job being persistent even through struggles. You can get back on your exercise routine, it's just tough. And a pound could be water weight, clothes, etc. I'm sure next week you'll have dropped it right back off and maybe it will take a few more with it.

Have fun with the mojo ; ) Just starting to get mine back and seriously - watch out!

You are kicking butt! And sooo close to onederland - I bet you will reach it next week, maybe even be below just hitting it.

You should check Groupon, I know that the power house gym in my area is having a good sale on there for a few months of gym time. Maybe there are some in your area too?

Congrats on the NSV! Sounds like a lot of people are noticing.

Congratulations on your surgery date ! September is just around the corner.

Maybe your guilt is in part that you don't feel like you deserve this? You do though! If you're like me, you've tried the diets, the medical stuff, the shakes and the meals and the so on. And it hasn't worked. If we want to be healthy people, we need to make a change, and being fat is much more risky than having one surgery. Think of the % chance that you'd get diabetes being 100lbs overweight for 20 years. It's probably worlds higher than the 1% risk of leak, etc.

Good luck on the pre-op diet!

I am looking forward to people treating me better. I am tired of having my weight be the first thing people notice about me. It is sad though that people are affected so much by it, and I will try and remember this when I'm thinner. I don't wanna turn into the same person that has been ignoring me for years because of my weight =p

Edamame! I cannot wait until I can eat this again!!!

Sounds like a great meal day =)

I was allowed to drive after 2 weeks. I did just fine, no pain.

I think we all have the worry about not losing weight. By and far the results on this forum are pretty clear - You will lose weight. Whether or not you maintain or reach your goal - now that's up to you and the hard work/dedication you put into your health. You can do this =)

I thought it was kinda interesting, kinda gross. I couldn't watch the whole thing though because my attention span sucks. It still hasn't registered really that they actually did that to me. It kinda felt like I woke up with a few cuts and a new stomach and had no surgery =p (Even though I know that's not the truth at all! )

All I remember is getting on the surgical table and then waking up in the recovery room - it's rather nice!

Yay! i'm glad to hear that your psych eval went well. Mine was a pain in the butt! She took days to clear me and then days to forward the paperwork.

I'm sorry this is happening =( It sounds super frustrating.

I can kind of sympathize with your family doctor. While they are your physician, they are not as specialized as your bariatric doctor is with the lapband. Since it's kind of a specialized thing, if I was a provider I would be hesitant to try and diagnose anything related to it. While it's frustrating, if it's lapband related, it's in the realm of a bariatric surgeon, not as much as a primary care physician. Even if they did decide to order tests from your PCP, if they thought it was any lapband related they would end up referring you back to your bariatric doctor.

If you are having nausea 24/7 and it's not getting better, call the bariatric clinic and tell them that you feel like you need to come in for a visit. Let them know you've been nauseous for weeks and it's getting worse. I'm not sure what the conversation went like the first time you called, but stress that you want to come in and see someone. The nurses are trained to do over the phone assessments, so she's not trying to block you, but she is try to make the most out of both your time and her time by saving you an office visit she doesn't seem to think you need. If you think you need tests done - insist on an office visit at your bariatric doctor. At the very least if the zofran isn't working ask them to prescribe you another medication for nausea - there are more than just one of them.

I hope you feel better. It sounds like it's been a crummy two weeks. It's gotta look up soon!

Having time off for two weeks really does give time to think =) It is very insightful about the giving yourself a chance to learn and conquer food addition, I definitely agree that intended or not, that is a great thing for us sleevers to be forced to take a break from the options of food choices. I'm excited for you and it sounds like you're doing awesome =D I hope that things continue to go as well, keep us updated!

It sounds like you're very resistant to some of the tests that the doctors want you to have. Even though it's a pain, the surgeon would not ask you to if it was not relevant to your health, whether or not the insurance requires it. They are just looking out for your health during and post surgery. I mean, you are willing to put your life in this surgeon's hands, you may as well trust what he has to say about what's best.

You can do this! It takes a lot of commitment and you have time to get totally on board between now and your surgery. Keep us updated!

I gotta agree with Lissa, you are a great writer =) I definitely enjoyed reading this entry.

Thanks guys, I am glad that I was not just overreacting. He kept acting like I was crazy and it was making me feel like I was going a little overboard.

I really appreciate the words of wisdom CdnExpat, I tried to do that today and it's helped a bit =)