MsC

LissyinTX,

I am in the same situation with being a slow loser. I was very concerned about the slow weight-loss at my first few post-op appointments with the surgeon and she was unconcerned, said it was nothing to worry about. Then I recently went in for my 3 month visit and now she is very concerned that I am not losing more weight. I am going to see another nutritionist and am going to support group meetings and I have to continue logging my food intake -- which is the part I hate the most. Despite the frustration at losing practically nothing in the last 6 weeks, I am glad that I had the surgery -- I love having a limiter on my food intake.

Thanks for posting about being a slow loser. I have a lot of weight to lose -- I am in the "super morbidly obese" catagory. Sometimes it is hard to read the postings about large amounts of weight loss in just a few months. It makes me wonder what I am doing wrong. It makes me feel like this is just another failed attempt to lose weight... but as long as I am generally moving downward on the scale I don't want to get too down about it.

Best wishes, MsC

Hi All, Gas-X strips are a life saver (but a little pricey) they taste like mint and you just dissolve the strip in your mouth. I am 2 months out and I still have some gas and gurgling -- depending on what I ate -- but nothing like it was in the beginning. Hang in there! And congratulations to you all; you are through with the hardest part!

Hi Rebel,

CONGRATULATIONS on feeling so good! Thank you for your post; it gives me hope. I am a little over three weeks out and have been in a stall since about a week after surgery. It makes me feel so good to read successful, life-changing posts like yours!

MsC

I can totally relate -- I was on the all liquid diet for 2 weeks. It was very difficult at times. A couple of things that helped me through -- I made some sugar free Jello and kept it at the ready. It is almost like real food! Also, DRINK all the time. I kept a cup of hot tea, or bouillion, or Crystal Light with me at all times. Drink drink drink. Your stomach won't feel as empty.

If you are going to completely go off of the rails, then drink an extra Protein shake that day. It won't hurt the diet and the Protein is very satisfying. You can do this! It is better for your surgery and also I think that it really helped with my recovery.

You are almost there!

@Leigh Ann

My sleeve was done by Dr. Colleen Kennedy at Texas Health Presbyterian in Plano, TX. As far as advice after the sleeve, follow the surgeon's recommended diet and walk! I did laps around my house after I came home from surgery -- it really seems to help with the recovery. I only spent one night in the hospital. Since you are an ex-bandster you probably know the drill! I haven't been released to do real exercise yet, just walking. And since they put stitches inside please don't lift anything! My surgeon won't even let me push the vacuum around.

I track everything that I eat and drink and my vitamins; I count grams of Protein and ounces of liquid -- since dehydration is a risk.

I'll be sending you good thoughts on the 17th!

@ Leigh Ann!

Welcome and Congratulations on your upcoming surgery date!

I am new to WLS and have had my sleeve for 17 days now. Once I got home from the hospital it hasn't been too difficult; this forum is invaluable! I did the 2 week pre-op diet too, mine was all liquid, I refer to it as my "Vision Quest" LOL. I have heard great things about Dr. Kim!

Best regards, MsC.

@ wishes:

Thank you SO MUCH for posting this article. I have been in some despair over thinking that this surgery might not work for me. I have actually gained weight since right after surgery -- I am about 17 days since my operation. My weight went down a little right after surgery, then went up and has stayed at the same spot since. I am trying to be patient but after a life-time of having my dieting attempts fail, it is difficult to believe that the sleeve is going to work for me. This article made me feel so much better; a BIG thanks for posting it.

You look so cute!!! Thanks for the update. Congratulations on your great reports!

If you trust your surgeon, if your surgeon has lots of experience doing these procedures, then you should take his/her recommendation very seriously. Also, please read this forum thoroughly. So many of the sleeve patients here have had their lap bands removed and replaced with the sleeve procedure. From what I have read, the lap band has complications long term.

I refer you to the sub-forum within VerticalSleeveTalk called: Band to Sleeve Revisions

You will find many people who have had the lap band surgery commenting on their experiences here.

As for myself, I was sleeved 13 days ago. I wanted a permanent solution with low maintenance (no fills and adjustments.) I didn't want the equipment installed in my body. My primary care doctor introduced me to the idea of the sleeve surgery. I liked the idea of reducing the production of the hunger hormone gherlin -- which is produced primarily in the part of the stomach that is removed. In my research I came across this forum and really learned a lot about the realities of the procedure. I am at the beginning of my weight loss journey but I am very happy with my choice.

Best of luck to you in your decision.

Very interesting and honest post, thanks! Best of luck to you, you sound like you are doing everything right to take care of yourself.

WOW! You are so beautiful!!! This gives me so much hope and inspiration! Thank you for posting the photos. And thanks for saying that we should trust in the sleeve; I needed to hear that. I am just 11 days out and it is hard for me to believe that this is actually going to work. It seems like I can drink lots of liquid -- I find myself wondering if this surgery will work for me. Congratulations on your success.

That is incredibly frustrating! There was some foot dragging by this office or that during my process as well. I had to stay actively involved to make sure that everything happened and all was finally sent to my insurance company. You sound like you are nearly there. Sending good vibes your way!

I am here to "second" both of the above suggestions!Just after being sleeved, I was having trouble sleeping for more than 3 hours at a time. My surgeon told me to take Benadryl -- which is a great sleep aid. It is available as a liquid (children's version) and often there is a store brand that is cheaper.

My husband swears by Melatonin. Good luck to you and sweet dreams!

I am not in the medical profession so my advice is only my opinion. If it were me, I would reschedule the other wrist surgery for late in the year. I think that the hernia + VSG is pretty commonly done together and that shouldn't be a concern. Are both of your wrists equally problematic? I think that I would want use of the left arm during my recovery. Please discuss this with your VSG surgeon.

Good luck to you.

Staple201, thanks for the update! I am so glad to hear that you are past the worst of it! Warmest regards to you.

You look completely awesome!!! I am hoping that I can do as well as you have! Congratulations!

I had my surgery 9/23 -- so far so good. Not in much pain, just like I have a "stitch" in my left side. I have to limit my movement because the surgeon said this is the area where she sewed together my muscle inside. A couple of my incisions could be looking better but I was told those two are the last to heal. It is hard for me to remember not to lift things.

I am on full liquids and I can really drink! In fact, like so many people I have read on the forum, it seems like I have too much ease getting in lots of liquid! I guess I will see the power of the sleeve action when I get to real foods.

I can hardly believe it is done. It seemed like the year long research, doctor's appointments, gathering info for my insurance co. would never come to an end. But here I am. I made it through the worst part and I am on the mend. I could not be happier with my decision.

I have lost 11 pounds since surgery day. Between 6 month diet, 2 week pre-op diet and post surgery weight loss I weigh less than I have in ?? maybe 10 years. My blood pressure medicine has been reduced by 75%. My Type 2 diabetic medication has been stopped completely. I could not have imagined I would achieve those things just 1 week post-surgery. I also could not imagine that I would be looking forward to starting to exercise; where did that come from?

Sending wishes for health and a love of life to all the September Sleevers.

Hi Nervous,

Everything will be alright. It is so normal for you to be worried just before a major surgery. Just take it moment by moment, don't worry about things that have not happened. You are in the hands of professionals. Sending good thought and prayers to you today.

A big thanks for this post! I am at just one week out and this is such helpful information for me. Congratulations on your commitment and great success.

I am still two weeks away from mushies but I am already picking up some nice canned Soups. Like a vegetable beef or a lentil Soup, then I am going to pulse it in the blender just to make sure it is okay to eat.

A can of zucchini with tomatoes Italian style. costco sells a really good canned chicken that is super tender -- put in some spices and mayo, yum! Soft cheese like the Baby Bell Light. Greek yogurt - high in Protein. Avocados. Bananas. Deviled ham. Soft scrambled eggs. Vienna sausage are really soft.

Not gourmet stuff but I like easy!

Oh my gosh!!! It made me so happy to read your NSV post! Congratulations!!!

Suez1105 -- something that you said caught my attention:

"Also I am having pain only on my right upper abdomen but it's not close to where any incisions are. I mean it hurts especially when I move but it's not terrible but is this normal?"

Rapid weight-loss can evidently cause gallstones which would cause upper right quadrant pain. Do a search within the forum for: gallbladder You will find questions and descriptions about this problem.

I just don't want for you to be ignoring something that could be making you feel very bad indeed -- thinking that it is just normal post-surgery pain.

I hope you feel better very soon.

Hi Mick,

Actually, just the opposite; if anything the sleeve will help your situation. You can potentially get rid of your diabetic symptoms with the sleeve and a proper high Protein / low carbohydrate diet. And if you have only been diabetic for a short period of time -- less than a year or two -- the odds of this reversal are very very good.

The news that you are diabetic should probably strengthen your resolve to have a weight loss surgery. And the surgeons deal with diabetic sleevers all the time. In fact, most insurance companies need to see that you have one or more "co-morbidities" in order to approve the procedure. (The usual co-morbidity list includes Diabetes, High Blood Pressure, a high Body Mass Index number, sleep Apnea, High Cholesterol / Triglycerides...)

I would say that you are in the right place at the right time. You had already come to the decision that you want to have this procedure for a better quality of life and you can also reverse a terrible disease.

You said that you don't know much about diabetes but I have seen it in my family all of my life. My sister is a blind amputee who has no feeling in her feet; she has 8 stints in the arteries around her heart. My brother died at age 47 from heart disease cause by diabetes. My grandmother had alzheimer's which is now clinically linked to diabetes. My great uncle was an amputee from this disease. I found last year that I have Type 2 diabetes. My surgery was 9/23/11. I have already been taken off of all of my diabetes medication.

I hope this helps. I wish you all the best.

Ms.C.

@ April -- I think that you should post this question as a new topic instead of part of another existing thread. I think that your situation sounds very important and more of the experienced "old timers" will see your question and respond. My heart goes out to you. Call the surgeon's office and if they have a good staff they will get this worked out for you. Definitely don't stay quiet about this -- what is happening to you is not typical and needs to be addressed asap. Of course you are in despair -- you are not able to function mentally or physically if you can't keep in enough Protein and nutrition. It will not always be this way.

Please let us know how you are doing.

Adri, thanks! I know you are totally right. I will get another meter asap so I can be sure about what is going on. I saw my surgeon today (five day follow-up after surgery.) She thinks that my blood pressure med needs to be cut in half. I take it right before bed and I get these chills after I go to bed. So we are going to try that starting this evening. My BP numbers are crazy good, like 115/60 BEFORE I take my lisinopril. So maybe that is the real issue.