CajunCutie

So good to know. I'm about 8 months out, from 242lbs to 141 lbs as of this morning. I'm 5'6. For the past month or so I've been having increasingly more annoying dizzy spells, always in the evening and always after standing up. I haven't actually passed out yet, but I sure feel like I might, last night was the worst. I've started taking my Multivitamins again, and my Iron supplements, tho not as consistently as I should. And I'm trying to eat more Protein, drink more Water. I'm starting to feel nervous about the situation. I have an appointment with my new pcp at the end of the month, hoping he'll tell me i'm fine.

I am almost 8 months out! From 242lbs to 141lbs this morning. I'm 5'6. I can drink pretty fast, practically like I could before the surgery. I have had no problems while working out. But sometimes in the evening after a particularly hard and hot workout (I live in New Orleans and my cardio is usually tennis outside) I find that I get dizzy when standing up to fast. I'm pretty sure it's a hydration issue so I've been trying drink more Water. It did take all these months to get to the point where I could work out hard. My endurance was really bad before.

Hi! I'm exactly 2 months out today! I have lost 50lbs so far... making me half way to goal! I feel pretty good. I had a bout with some pretty hardcore dizziness at 5-6 weeks out but it has resolved. I eat a lot of cottage cheese, chicken salad, atkins shakes because I hate all the Protein powders I have tried. I also eat fruits and veggies and Protein Bars and have a small ice coffee with sugar free chocolate syrup almost every morning. I have not had any bread, crackers, Cereal or really anything made with flour or rice except for the very occasional bite. But I don't eat very much at all....and I also have a very hard time eating until the afternoon and some things still don't sit well (like tofu or brussel sprouts) and I'm still learning to chew slowly and figure out what it feels like to feel full before I'm so full I feel sick. I try to limit myself to 3 or 4 small bites of anything because any more than that and I feel sick. I have gone out to dinner only twice, both times in the past 3 weeks, once for sushi and once for tapas, both times I did great (which was pretty awesome!) but I still feel like it's easier to eat at home. I am sure I am probably not getting in enough protein or calories but each day I keep trying (some days are better than others)....I am just rarely hungry until I'm starving and eating doesn't hold the same kind of appeal that it did pre sleeve. Today I have had some smoked sausage and cauliflower and most of a Protein shake and Water. No hair loss so far. I am definitely more active, started playing tennis again a couple of times a week and joined a gym (tho i've only been to the gym once) but I find it's much easier for me to move around in general. CC Stats: I'm almost but not quite 5'6. A few months shy of 35 yrs old. No pre surgery weight loss. Surgery day weight: 242lbs Current weight: 192lbs Goal weight: Somewhere in the 140s

Hi Ginger!! I'm in NOLA! I was sleeved about 5 1/2 weeks ago by Dr. Lavin. I am 34. 5'6 and 242lbs on surgery day. I think that was also my highest weight and I did not have any pre-op diet. I have lost 39lbs. I was a self pay so I can't answer any insurance questions. C.C.

Ok....Really, I want to soak in my tub sooooooo bad!!!! It's been 20 days since my surgery, my incisions are healed minus 2 tiny scabs on 2 of them. Anyone know if I can take a bath?????? I thought the Doc told me a month but I can't remember and online it said 2 weeks. Opinions??? Thanks!! CC

Hey there, sounds like you're struggling. I don't have a whole lot of experience, was sleeved 12/6/11...But I have had problems with hunger too. What helps me is Protein shakes and drinking enough Water. The protein really fills me up, I like the atkins drinks. Are you eating slowly? I know it's a pain in the a$$ and challenging to do at first, and then I feel like "3 bites, that's it??? Ridiculous, I'm still hungry!!!" But I actually am full, and it's just my head playing tricks. Also, I would talk to your surgeon, because if you are able to eat a whole box of cottage cheese ( I don't know exactly how much it is but sounds like a lot) WITHOUT any problems, pain, vomiting etc, then something might be up with your sleeve. I'm so sorry you're feeling bad. CC

Hey there! I'm a nurse, albeit a cardiac nurse so I don't have an extensive knowledge about the esophagus, but I've never heard of a herniated one....do you mean hiatal hernia? If so, it would make sense that you are having difficulty burping, because the repair causes the sphincter muscle from your esophagus into your stomach to be very very tight. FYI I had a hiatal hernia repair with my VSG and I had a terrible time with gas the first few days. My Doc gave me a prescription for Levsin, sublingual, which helped tremendously. Even if you didn't have the hiatal hernia repair I would ask your doc for a scrip for it, it helps "loosen" up the GI tract making it easier to swallow, burp etc. Hope you feel better soon! CC

Awesome!!!

Looking great!!! And younger too!!! Congrats!

I haven't had a leak, I'm 4 days post op, and hope hope hope I do not get one. My doc, Dr Lavin of NOLA uses staples and then overlays sutures.

If that is your picture then you are beautiful. For real.

Thanks Yall. I will keep taking the meds. Waterlover- I was set to have the sleeve almost a year ago and backed out for very similar reasons. Then I spent the past year struggling the same as I always have losing weight, gaining it back, exercising, etc. I think we can all attest that we all have tried very very very hard and struggled with out weight if not for an entire lifetime, then at least for a good bit of it. You are not lazy. C.C

wow!!!!!!

Ahhh. That makes me feel better! Thanks! When is your surgery?

Hi All! I've been lurking around this site for a while now and I'm so thankful y'all are here. In my pre op and post op stages y'all have been incredibly helpful and inspirational !!! So thank you I was sleeved on Tuesday Dec 6th by Dr. Thomas Lavin in New Orleans and also had a hiatal hernia repaired (that I didn't know I had). Things have been going pretty well so far, have been able to get in almost all my liquids, am walking a good bit, doing laundry, household chores etc etc But I am concerned about the amount of pain I am in when I'm late on the pain meds. I have the liquid Loratab that I've been taking pretty much every 4 hrs. This morning when I woke up at 7am i decided not to take it thinking maybe I didn't need it anymore and it's been 4 days and shouldn't I be off pain meds by now??!! I fell back asleep, woke up at 11ish in a good bit of pain, took the med. Its finally kicking in now. The pain is mostly situated right below my sternum. It also feels super tight when I swallow like the liquid is just sitting above my stomach before going into it. When I'm taking the pain medicine I feel pretty great, no problems. But at 4 days post op I'm wondering why I still need it every 4 hrs!! I'm worried there is something wrong with me. I'm also having occasional painful hiccups (that don't relate to eating/drinking). I'm taking Prilosec daily. I'm also taking Levsin SL 4x day. Tums occasionally. Haven't really needed the Gas Ex since day 2 post op. Any advice/word of wisdom/encouragement will be greatly appreciated. C.C.