luvzpitbullz

I don't have much advice because I'm dealing with the same issue. I'm 4.5 months out and have lost 40lbs. I'm discouraged by this rate of loss and that I actually gained 1.5 lbs in tge last 2 weeks. I still struggle with carbs and sweets and have issues getting all my Protein in. I've increased my exercise so I'm hoping that will help. I lost 120 lbs in a year with my band and I guess I thought the sleeve would at least equal or surpass those results. 5 more lbs and I'll be back in onederland ! I wish it would happen faster! Good luck, you're not alone.

Honey you need some help. I know what it's like to turn to food to help comfort your soul. But it's short lived and no u don't need it. You said you go to school, they should have resources to help you or point you in the right direction. The important thing is you need to take care of you. Now. Find a state funded program, call a friend, check with your church if you go. Harming yourself isn't the way to let go of what's eating away at your spirit. You need to find a healthy outlet. You are worth more than you are giving yourself credit for. Things are rough now, I get that. But you are going to school to better your life, you are losing weight to become healthy. You have these things going for you. Don't give up. Before you know it you will see the pride and beauty in your accomplishments. And please stick around here. This group is a wonderful support team. Hang in there, find someone to talk to like now... And keep coming back here too.

Thanks for the link. Last time he was able to get an rx for Questran, it was $260 for 1 can of it. We found it on the internet for $120 with no rx but it's a pain in the butt to get and probably not legal. He will have insurance next month so we will try the Calcium until then. Maybe pairing that with Imodium. So I take it my little caltrate chewies won't work?

Anyone know any OTC alternatives to Questran or cholysteramine? Hubby had huge section of intestines removed a number of years ago and was prescribed it for the horrible diarrhea that followed. He doesn't have insurance now and Imodium does nothing for the diarrhea. He can't keep weight on and we haven't been able to find a decent alternative to the Questran.

I had surgery 11/5. Lost 16 lbs that first 2-3 weeks then stalled. Went up and down between 229-231 and it drove me nuts. I was positive I would be one of those people that this surgery would not work for. But finally at week 4.5 my stall broke and now I'm down to 224. Oddly it seemed that increasing my calories to 800-900 a day helped. At least I think it did. That, and taking a laxative if I haven't had a bm in 4-5 days. I don't recommend that as a weight loss trick but when you're backed up, you're backed up.

I'm 6-7 weeks out. Full diet now. Need some quick and easy ideas of food I can pack for my work lunch. No tuna! I hate it. Right now I bring a Greek yogurt, a Protein shake, low fat string cheese and then I'll usually go buy a meatball from the Italian place next door or a grilled chicken wrap from mc Donald's minus the wrap part. But I'm trying to get away from spending $ eating out. Ideas???

Thanks!!

I take the mini tamalitos to work for lunch a couple times a week. The chicken is the easiest to digest. It's already soft and tender.

Did u take pain meds post op? I had horrible insomnia and restless legs after stopping my pain meds. It actually look a couple weeks to get back to a normal nights sleep.

I've been taking natural vegetable laxatives. Wal mart brand. They work great, no cramping, no running to the bathroom, just a good ol natural bm.

I'm really getting depressed and unmotivated. I'm a month out , down 18 lbs or 16 depending on the fickle scale. I stopped weighing myself so much because it's downright depressing. Even if I weigh once a week. Nothing is happening! I've bounced between 229 and 231 since week 2. I eat an averGe of 700 cal a day, mostly Protein. At this point, I wonder what was the point of this surgery? It doesn't even seem worth it. And maybe I go on losing 2 lbs a month or whatever. I have up Cookies and cupcakes for this? I've read all about the stalls but something's got to give here. Am I alone in thinking this way?

I didn't quit and still haven't quit and I hate it. But if you can do it, now is the time. I wish you all the luck in the world with the quitting and your surgery. :-)

If you hop over to the Post Op thread, we are having a whole discussion about it. Sounds like it might not be such a bad idea.

No not meant toward you at all. Most pain for me I say is in my mind. The side effects form that stuff is much worse to me then the pain. My Hernia surgeon few years back when I told him I worried about getting hooked said flush em down the toilet I did just that

I know what you mean. I had my lap band removed in September and they sent me home with Percocet. I took them for about 3-4 days and then switched over to Advil. But for a couple nights after stopping the Percocet, I had horrible insomnia, restless legs, hot and cold flashes, etc. It was horrible and I was shocked that I could get withdrawl symptoms after taking it such a short time. I told my doctor I never want Percocet again. And I'm hoping the lortab doesn't yield the same result.

I guess I've seen too many get hooked I tell myself going in to get right off them. I see no real benefit it's all in the mind Tylenol is fine I wanna drive ( I drive home from hospitail) and get stuff done not lay around in alleged pain sleeping all day. It's just me

hopefully you didn't mean that the way it came out as my pain was definetly not alleged. My ex best friend is addicted to pain pills. It's really sad. But then there are those of us who legitimately need them and don't abuse them. I wish it were different but I would've not got any sleep those first few weeks the kind of pain I was in. But if Tylenol works for you, more power to you.

Wow that's long time on pain meds i got off them before leaving Hospital sleeved 19th too on my way to work tonight energy abound. but guess we are all different. i can't stand the dreams and always needing to sleep. My 5 herina Operations before were much more painful. I used tylenol at home.

That's nothin. I had my surgery on the 5th and jhad such pain in my side that I barely stopped the lortab on Friday. I guess we all heal differently.

You and me both!!! I dont even want to get on the scale cuz im just afraid ill be upset all over again! What r u eatiing at this point?

well today I started with a Protein Shake, then some coffee. Around noon I had some shredded up chicken and for a snack a sugar free hot chocolate. Waiting on hubby to bring me some Beans n cheese. Yummy!

I'm in the soft food stage. I had about 2-3 oz of chicken at noon and it's now after 7 and I still haven't eaten. I feel hungry but not ravenous and I had a SF hot chocolate and gonna have hubby bring home some refried Beans soon. Such a change from liquid stage when I was starving all the time! But I'd say if u eat every 3-4 hours, you'll be good. Good luck!

I took a good ole wal mart laxative. It worked BUT I had tummy cramps and a couple accidents the next day. But I also lost 4 lbs. I usually drink "smooth move" tea with senna. I'm pretty sure it's by celestial seasonings or another big tea maker. I don't recall it being as harsh as the pill form lax. I would drink a cup before bed and go in the morning and that was it. Haven't tried a probiotic yet. I see Activa makes a Greek yogurt. Isn't Activa a probiotic in itself ?

It will get better - I was able to get over that hungry feeling with a couple of sips of Water. Makes me wonder if it was hunger or maybe some acid in my stomach or something. I'm on puree right now - I'm loving refried beans!

Refried Beans are a puréed godsend. That,by far, has been my favorite puréed meal. Little bit of queso fresco and sour cream and sometimes some salsa. Yumm-O!!

Gosh it sure is frustrating. I think I lost more at this point when I was banded! I weighed myself a week ago and I was 229. Weighed myself this morning...231. I may be alone in saying this but it makes me wonder why am I trying so hard? I'm all about Protein protein protein but when it doesn't yield the results I feel it should then all I think is cookie cookie cookie. I mean this is why I couldn't lose with diet and exercise. The weight loss was alwAys great at the start and then it got slow and I got unmotivated. At this point I'm not a happy camper.

Come in all Nov sleevers and share your progress, updates, whatever! I was sleeved on Nov 4th. My ups are my pain only lasted a few days. Im able to eat and drink just fine. Sometimes I feel I can eat a lil too much. My downs at this point are I have lost 14 pounds since surgery. So share how its been for you so far!

hey girl! I'm with you in the weight loss. I've lost 16 lbs and it seems to keep going up and down the same 4-5 lbs. getting soooo frustrated! I'm sorry we are in the same boat but I'm glad I'm not the only one. Especially when you see how much others have lost in the first month. But I guess it's too late to turn back now!

Things were going good the first ten days or so. I lost about 14 lbs. most of it probably Water weight. But I seem to be going up and down the same 4-5 lbs for the last couple weeks. I eat an average of 700 cal a day. I started at 246 and I now weigh 229 although this morning it said 231.5. I'm not doing much exercise yet because I still have this nagging pain in my side. I know I'm only 3.5 weeks out but at this point I'm wondering if this surgery is gonna work well for me. I log everything that goes in my mouth and make sure I get all my Protein in. I can understand a stall but the weight going up a few lbs here and there really bugs me.

Thanks for the replies. I'm not sure that it's gas though. I have been walking a lot and that actually makes it worse. I basically have to keep taking the lortab every 4 hours to even keep the pain manageable. It also seems to be worse after emptying my bladder or bowels. No fun

As for my ct scan, they noticed a small spot or mass on my liver. They don't know what it is so I have to go in for more extensive testing next week. I guess the concern in always cancer but I have no family history of cancer and I've heard liver cancer is very rare. It's probably like a fatty deposit or something. Guess I'll know for sure next week!

Starbucks is my weakness. I was a twice a day addict for a loooong time. I just started drinking coffee again (I'm 3 weeks out). So usually I have one of their canned Double Shots Light when I get up in the morning. It's only 70 cal. But for the most part I have been avoiding the drive thru. I've gone twice since surgery and have gotten a skinny vanilla latte made with soy milk or a skinny hot chocolate. I'm trying to stick to the one coffee a day because I hate to drink the extra calories and see what it does to my carb count. So, it's not the devil in moderation but if you can get by without it, that's even better. If it's more of a social thing for you, try one of their tazo teas or an iced americano or heck, even an iced Water. They have a list of drinks on their website that are 200 cal and under plus the baristas are always most helpful in recommending ways to cut calories out. But even under 200 cal drinks are like 25% of my daily caloric intake so you just have to decide if it's worth it to you. :-)

I have had this horrible nagging pain in my left side for the past 2.5 weeks. Last week it was so bad I went to the ER. They did a CT scan and said everything looks normal. The pain radiates around to my back. It's not kidney stones, not gas and not Constipation. My wonderful Dr has been calling me every day to see if it's better and so far it's not. He wants me to go in for a more thorough CT and do a swallow as well. It seems to get worse at night and I can feel it a lot if I take deep breaths. Anyone else have this or know what it may be? The good and bad news is that when they did my scan, they found a spot on my liver that they want to do further testing on to make sure it's benign. I guess if it wasn't for this pain, they wouldn't have found that. Any ideas?

Thanks!