Southern Gal

I don't think Sarah came across as rude but obviously got defensive with all the not so friendly replies. She was asking a question because there is not a definitive or consistent answer. To be honest, I have wondered this same question in my head and am so glad I never asked on this forum. Wondering does not make me a "lush" and in fact I rarely drink but would I like to have a glass of wine on my wedding anniversary and not have to wonder if it so OK or safe...you bet. I was just floored at the responses.

I would find out before.

I don't think Sarah came across as rude but obviously got defensive with all the not so friendly replies. She was asking a question because there is not a definitive or consistent answer. To be honest, I have wondered this same question in my head and am so glad I never asked on this forum. Wondering does not make me a "lush" and in fact I rarely drink but would I like to have a glass of wine on my wedding anniversary and not have to wonder if it so OK or safe...you bet. I was just floored at the responses.

Totally normal. I know you won't listen...as I didn't listen when I was in your shoes...but I will say it anyways. Don't get on the scale everyday...or even every week. I weigh myself once a month now...and I am usually happy with the results...but when I was in the beginning I would lose...then go up...then down then up...it would drive me nuts. Weight can go up or down by five pounds a day. You will lose...just stop watching the scale and pay attention to all the clothes you shrink out of! Good luck!

I was thinking the exact same thing....that does sound like a rigorous pre-op diet....

DeeDee,
My heart goes out to you. I'm only two weeks out but I have been able to tolerate everything I have tried with no issues whatsoever. I can drink normally -- not guzzling but definitely not sipping. The only time I had an inkling of an issue was when I tried Cream of Wheat which I had not watered down.... after a few teaspoons I felt like an elephant was sitting on my chest. I stopped and it went away after a few minutes. Yesterday I wanted to eat (ok, slurp) all day...which I sort of did. Never much at one time and I still stayed under a 800 calories (I usually average 600 now) but it worries me.
I had my first post-op visit yesterday -- I told them I almost feel like I never had surgery. They assured me that once I transition to more solid food I will be able to feel the restriction. I hope so.
Maybe you are stuck in a cycle-- not losing weight, getting depressed, eating..... If you can maybe go back to full liquids for a week and see a major loss-- maybe that would help you get back on track?
Keep posting and sharing.... the fact that you recognize the problem and are open about it is really a good thing....you're not sticking your head in the sand.
Maybe you can find someone who you are accountable to on a daily basis... say a friend who can remind you to drink, take your Vitamins, Protein etc....I asked my husband to try to remind me -- I asked him to call me and ask Have you taken your Vitamins? Are you drinking?? ..and it has helped. When he calls I immediately go and make a Protein Drink or take my vitamins. Just a thought...

I hated them too until I finally made one I like. One scoop chocolate Protein powder, 1/2 frozen banana, 1 cup skim milk, and 1 tsp Peanut Butter. Mix in a blender. Tastes sooooo good. I have to make myself not drink this too fast. Again, only one I like so far!

I thought my sleeve didn't like acid either. I was getting really really mild reflux, more annoying at times than pain.
I got some apple cider vinegar after reading about it on here - and it works. Mild reflux gone.
That fact that I have it in a shot glass, bang it on the table like it's a tequila shot is a whole 'nother issue.

I hated them too until I finally made one I like. One scoop chocolate Protein powder, 1/2 frozen banana, 1 cup skim milk, and 1 tsp Peanut Butter. Mix in a blender. Tastes sooooo good. I have to make myself not drink this too fast. Again, only one I like so far!

I hated them too until I finally made one I like. One scoop chocolate Protein powder, 1/2 frozen banana, 1 cup skim milk, and 1 tsp Peanut Butter. Mix in a blender. Tastes sooooo good. I have to make myself not drink this too fast. Again, only one I like so far!

I know where you're coming from.
A bit of spicy grillled chicken thigh fillet, some hommus or some babaganoush and a little bit of crunchy salad - would you believe, I even like it better than ...................CHEESEBURGERS!
Sorry. Couldn't help myself.
:lol:

OP I so agree! and that's probably one of the main reasons why I don't visit VST as often as I used to. The all or nothing approach has never worked for me in the past and it wont work for me now but I don't feel like dealing with the judgement so I keep my thoughts and daily diet to myself. On most diet forums there always seems to be the type who preach all or nothing and then several people chime in about how perfect they are yada yada and it seems to be the same on this site also. I don't get involved in the drama on any site because it's pointless. I've also been private messaged about certain things that people don't want to get flamed about. I also find myself smh when people imply that you will die if you eat a piece of cake a month after surgery. Some places start you back on regular food while in the hospital. I tend not to vent my frustration because it's pointless.

OP, I understand where you are coming from. You have no idea the number of people who have reached out to me about exactly what you are saying. I honestly use the same term myself sometime, if we are going to be honest. I am hearing from many people because sometimes they just come to our site, a "support" forum, just to vent, to see if others are experiencing what they are, etc., not to be made to feel like they are a failure because they took a bite of a doughnut.
As I mentioned in another thread, I stepped away for a couple of hours tonight because my fiance and I went out for our weekly Saturday night bacon cheeseburger at Chili's, and guess what, it was happy hour and I had two White Russians as well. By definition of some, I should seek immediate counseling because I ate 1/4 of a bacon cheeseburger and drank alcohol on a Saturday while out enjoying life with my man and friends. But, oh well, I am still losing weight and I am happy and enjoying the hell out of my life, so I just brush it off. They do what is right for them, I do what is right for me and my best advice is that you do what is right for you. I got this surgery to live and be happy. 95% of the time, I make healthy choices, but I am human and go out with friends and enjoy a couple of drinks, a cheeseburger or pizza when I do. I have no guilt. I don't need counseling. The difference is now, I am happy with that 1/4 cheeseburger. I don't need to shove the whole thing down my mouth. I know this isn't the last time I will ever be able to enjoy one, so I am quite capable of eating in moderation. If some aren't able to do that, well, then perhaps it is better for them to stay away from those foods. But for those of us who are able to do that, and continue to be healthy and lose weight, well, you know...
Now, with all that being said, the "horror story" thread and the "cheeseburger" thread have already gotten way out of hand. I have had more reported posts on those threads than I care to mention. If this one goes the same way, and everyone can't learn to communicate as adults, disagree without name calling and being abusive to one another, and have intelligent, respectful debates, then I won't hesitate to close all three topics.

You look great! I was in a almost 4 week stall and it finally broke ! Yeah I was so happy I cried! I'm 2 months out down 32 since surgery 51 total! My husband heard me get on the scale this morning & he said he said to himself please let her have a loss! ( I know I've been really bitchy when the scale didn't move) when he didn't hear anything he came in the room and said well? I held up 4 fingers then cried! It's a great day today! Even if it is going to be cold ad heck tomorrow!

Wow. What a story. I also had my sleeve on 1/14 after having a band for almost 4 years. My band was removed and alot of the scar tissue was cleaned up last April and my doc still said I had an enormous amount of scarring. I also had a huge hernia to repair. My surgery took 5 hours. It was expected to take 1 1/2 to 2 hrs. I'm sure I'll hear all the details once I go to my post op appt. My husband was so worried I doing think he heard anything other than she's ok. I have a drain that I'm worried about getting removed too. Our stories are very similar. I was the first surgery of the day and didn't get into recovery until after 5pm. But the good news is that today I feel great and am able to get my liquids in. I'm sure in a few days you'll be doing just as well. You had a 2nd surgery and alot of blood loss. Hang in there and keep us posted!
Crystal

Well, yes we DO have privacy but if a coworker (who is probably fat too I would guess) asks then I would TELL them the many benefits of WLS. It's your choice but informing other people who may need it is one thing that I look forward to doing. I tell ANYONE who asks and have had at least 2 people pursue WLS because of my openness.
I didn't tell anyone before hand besides my wife and openly tell anyone who asks about it now. And your question is the reason: Why Lie? We openly boast about so many things in our life, kids, work, homes etc, why not boast about the single most beneficial health decision that I have EVER made for myself?

I asked after a month after my surgery if I could drink because it was my 30th birthday, I couldn't make it through a milestone like that, that I couldn't drink... I am fine. My surgeon said, "your weight loss will slow down..." I have discovered that vodka and DIET OCEAN SPRAY CRAN-GRAPE OR CRAN-POMEGRANATE juice helps. My weight loss has not slowed, just happened. Y'all need to be informed!! Drink!!! It's awesome!! Just don't substitute your food addiction for alcohol.... Alcohol can still be enjoyed, just don't over do it. Love all my VSG family!

This is precisely why some surgeons use drains. With a JP drain in place (yes, even though there is a small risk of that getting infected too) leeks will be detected immediately. That being said, there is something fishy about the timeline of this story but I will give OP the benefit of the doubt that they have made some kind of error rather than declaring it fake.
That being said, this is what is called anecdotal evidence. It's evidence from personal experience and may or MAY NOT be reliable do to not having all the facts, cherry picking information for an agenda, and the fact that its nonrepresentational of a typical outcome.
We all know the risks of things like this, but the facts are still the facts, and cases like these, while it is POSSIBLE and I think everyone could be served well to remember that, are extremely rare and even had OP's sister taken more initiative in being an informed advocate for herself and her own health, she would not have settled for being diagnosed over the phone before everything became so terrible. I'm not stating this to say that we should blame a patient in a bad situation, but its important to remember personal responsibility when we have these procedures, which for many of us are completely elective.

She said her opinion,[VIOLATION OF FORUM RULES] and hate on her,calling her an idiot,you are the idiot,if you disagree alright,[VIOLATION OF FORUM RULES].

And if this was the reaction one would get to their first impassioned post, passion rightly earned by the way, would you want to post again? I totally understand if she's scared to do so. The reactions were kind of cruel.
While people say the story does not sound true, they show their lack of education in regards to this surgery. I had many of the same issues and many others here have as well. The complications due to lack of attention are just what I had, though not as bad. I lived the mini version so when I read this I totally can see where it makes sense. And believe me, while complications were discussed, no one told me the ugly reality of what that could be. NO ONE. When they say internal bleeding, they don't say you could lay there having seizures for hours without being able to communicate your pain. Nor do they say if you do have bleeding you now have to worry about hepatitis. No one mentioned holes in my lungs, or suction pipes attached to my chest. They gloss over "loss of your ability to eat ever again" pretty well in the paper work And then throw in a "but that's mostly a worry for the higher BMI folks" to put you at ease.
No one wants to hear the dirty side of this surgery. But it is important to hear it in detail, verses to see a few lines on a sheet they throw at you just before you go in. An intelligent adult will read this and process this and add it to their risk assessment without taking offense and passing out insults. Others will do something else. Who do you want to be?

I cant believe you are so inconsiderate of the fact that this girl has basically lost her sister!! She shared her experience and due to what she witnessed first hand I dont blame her for feeling this way. Your rudeness or shall I say IGNORANCE is not what this sight is about.If the tables were turned you wouldnt feel this way. Thank God for your health cause this could have easily happened to anyone of us who choose to have this WLS. I just cant believe people are so FULL OF EVIL like this. I pray you really re- read what you wrote and do a self check of your attitude towards this women. We all have said things we regret I hope you look deep within and reconsider what you posted. You owe this women an APOLOGY! I dont know if you will but if Sista-Sists see this post I APOLOGIZE to you for such cruel words. I pray that God will touch your sister's body and turn this whole thing around. I know God (Jesus Christ) is a healer and I pray for a miracle to take place in your sister life. Spreading LOVE is easier than HATE.

I believe her story about her sister it's amazing how you think someone would make something so sad up its not that serious ..sorry to hear about your sister

While you may strongly disagree with the OP, there is no need to resort to name calling. The name caller is the one put in an unfavorable light, and it is against the forum policies.

Kendra, everyone should be able to post their stories and not be berated for doing so. This is their experience with the sleeve and while it is very uncommon, it is a risk. People researching the sleeve should know this and be totally informed. While you are stating your opinion, the OP also has the right to state theirs.
Everybody's life stories are different. Some people are completely content being morbidly obese. Some people have tried dozens of weightloss options failing them miserably (me). We all have our reasons to either have surgery or try other means to live a healthier life. "Normal" people are usually ignorant of these struggles. I know my wife was and I am quite happy that she is ignorant of these struggles. I wouldn't wish them on anyone.