MichiganChic

Yeah, people can be stupid. And rude. And self righteous. And plain ole mean. I usually pretend they mean well, lol. Someone at work today told me she didn't know who I was and asked someone, and was "shocked". I took it as a compliment, haha!

My suggestion is to contact the person who is supposed to coordinate this for your care. I know they will appreciate that you want to be a compliant patient, but they will appreciate even more that you consulted them early. No two people have the same exact plan, and no one person has the exact same needs throughout. Many Vitamins are fat soluable, and that means they can build up in your system and actually do more harm than good. The Water soluable ones are less of an issue, you just pee out the excess. In my particular case, I was told to take flintstone chewables at first, and nothing else. They gradually added other things, such as Vitamin D, B12, and at six weeks I was told to take 1500 mg calcium a day. I had some labs done a couple of weeks ago, and my calcium was super high! I also have low Iron, so I take that, but that could be dangerous to take it if you don't need it. So my advice is don't just start taking vitamins without some baseline labs. Good luck!

You have done great! Just keep doing what you are doing, and it will start ot come off again. When did the weight stop coming off? I had about 6 good weeks in June where I was losing 3-4 pounds a week for reasons unknown, because I didn't do anything different. And now, for the last 2 weeks, no change. Again, I didn't do anything different, but my body is just going to do what it wants! I still have a long way to go, so I hope it picks back up! I was really hoping to be at or within 10 pounds of goal by the end of this calendar year.

Great job! Keep up the good work! I also had my surgery in December 2012.Best thing I ever did!

My doc also gave national stats of about 60% loss, but said his stats are better. I agree with proudgrammy, I do think they might "enhance" their numbers. For instance, they included my pre-op loss in with post-op loss. That boosted the number. Either way, when I started this journey, I thought 60% sounded pretty good. That was way better than what I could do alone, and I figured if I met his stats, it would be more like 70%, even better. Now at 6 months I've hit 60%, and I'm still losing, and I'm going for 100%. The sleeve helped me get the number down to one that is not so overwhelming, and I believe I can do it. I also think the national stats are realistic, because it includes people who don't put in the effort needed and lose little weight, as well as those who do put in the effort to get to 100%, and people everywhere in between It's an average, but in the end, each of us is in control of our own success. The sleeve is not magic, as we all know!

I got a new job! I'll be starting in two weeks, but I just wanted to post it here because I really think the sleeve and subsequent weight loss gave me the confidence and look I needed to be able to land it! I'm an informatics nurse, and I'll be working for a large home care/hospice organization implementing an EHR). This position will require some travel, something I would have never been able to even consider before due to not fitting in plane seats (that used to give me months of dread if I knew I had to travel). I am so happy I had the surgery, it has really changed my life! I can't wait to see what the next 60 pounds lost brings! It's like the clock is turning back for me. I'm so grateful for this gift

I've been reading this with interest. I wish I was, but I am not one of those people who can "eat what I want" and "not diet" at all! But, like your statement above, I just look at it as information. I don't have to work that hard at restricting my intake, my sleeve does some of that for me. However, my sleeve does not make good choices for me. I can't get by on no or very low carbs, but I have learned that simple carbs (white bread, rice, pasta) absolutely inhibit my weight loss. So, I do count calories and protein, and I don't count carbs, but have found myself naturally limiting processed, simple carbs. I will continue to count calories for the rest of my life, and I will also need to continue to weigh and measure my food. I think my stomach may hold more than some people here report, so I could over eat. Another thing I do that is akin to dieting, is I don't graze. I limit myself to 3 meals and 1 or 2 planned snacks. I don't resent the "diet", I am just grateful to have a small enough stomach that helps me succeed.

The nurse in me just won't let me not comment on this one! You are right about starting with the suppository next time (and hopefully even more right about steps to prevent that at all, next time!). Constipation is miserable, but it's worse when you are that backed up. Then, when take a laxative, it starts peristalsis, or intestinal churning movement. It also causes things to try to move through more quickly, ergo, the loose stools. When you have hard stool further down the colon that can't pass, all that churning and loose stools in the upper intestine cause all that cramping, and sometimes diarrhea will seep out around the blocked stool. No wonder you are worn out! This stuff just happens sometimes, but increased liquids might have helped. Another great trick is prunes, or prune juice, or even prune baby food. Hope you are feeling better!

I agree with other posters, and would like to add that NOW is the time to adjust your mindset. I had the same experience of initial gain, and just wasn't prepared for it. It's not only the IV fluids, it's also that the surgery makes you hold on to water in general because of the trauma and your body's natural healing mechanism. Over the last 6-7 months, I have learned a little patience. Before surgery, I would get discouraged when I didn't lose weight rapidly based on my decreased calorie intake, so I would always just quit. Honestly, the major difference between pre and post op is that I was FORCED to stick with it. As I saw how I lost over time, I realized what it's going to take for me to lose weight. Now I can certainly eat more and I don't think my body would force me eat enough less to continue losing weight. Now it is mostly me with a little help from my sleeve, and the fact that in the early days I learned a new habit and a new way of thinking. I believe that's the major contributor of success for me.

Good for you! Wishing you a speedy recovery

LOL, I don't know....but that title got my attention! I thought it was going to be a constipation post

I'm on My Fitness pal, too. Add me! tboosrn

Good for you!! Leaving 300 behind is glorious...and it will never be back. You are on your way! Having been there, I know that feeling, and I'm happy for you.

It was allowed on my plan at 4 months. I don't eat bread, rice, or pasta very often, and when I do, I keep it to the minimum, maybe one of them once or twice a week, or maybe less.

lookin good! congrats!

I don't hate anything about my sleeve. It took a while to fully feel this way, but I am getting to the point where I can say I LOVE it. One side effect I don't love is the hair loss...I could have done without that. Even if I had known the extent of it (I deluded myself into thinking it might be minor because I was so compliant with diet and vitamins), I would still have done it.

I count calories and protein, and avoid bread, rice, pasta because of the carbs. When I say "avoid", to me that translates into once in a while, I will have something like that. I eat a little fruits and/or vegetables every day. I do have some carbs, but not super high or super low. My body needs them to function properly. I don't eat oatmeal....not enough protein for me. I have the occasional protein bar, but try to limit them because they could quickly become a bad habit for me!

I like the Fage 0%. It's really high in protein and low in calories. I get the plain and use a little equal in it to sweeten it. I also add a little fruit sometimes.

I'm currently working on my third new wardrobe. I went through all the sizes in my closet, bought a new (limited) wardrobe, and now am forced to buy another - but still have a long way to go, so I know this is going to happen at least another time or two. I keep thinking I've had worse problems, lol. Anyway, as I was searching for just a pair of pants that fit well and were inexpensive, I had a strange experience. I know I wear a regular size now (14-16), but I don't know where to find them in the stores! I am so used to going to Lane Bryant or Catherines, or the Womens section of department stores, that I don't have a go-to store or spot in department stores. I'm used to having a somewhat limited selection, and always having to pay more. I feel a little overwhelmed with all the glorious choices!! I found myself wandering around Dillards, not even understanding the layout of the store (even though I've shopped there for 20 years) or where to find age appropriate work clothes.....and somehow found myself in the women's section! I was always grateful that they had a great womens section, and I could almost always find things there to fit (always the biggest size they carried), and yesterday it was all too big. I was happy and sad at the same time, and felt a little absurd for even thinking like that for one minute. This is a gift. Again, I've had worse problems. I have a long way to goal, so I'm certain I'll learn as I go. I still want to shop at places like White House Black Market, but I think I must be too fat to shop there. I'm afraid to even try. I don't want to go in there only to have someone look down their nose at me because they know I am not in the "club" of thin people who can wear their exclusive clothing. (they have not done this to me, but I've experienced it at other places) I braved a trip into Victoria Secret a couple of weeks ago, and was shocked that: a) I was treated like I belonged there, and I actually left with something!! In the past, I would go there to buy something for my daughter, and unless she was with me, no one tried to help me usually. I'm not sure how much of that was me trying to avoid them because I felt funny being there! As I wrote this super long post, it occurred to me that shopping can be an emotionally charged experience for overweight people, more so than I ever realized. Tell me your shopping experiences! Where do you love to shop now, and how did you make this transition?

The first few days are the most difficult. I was also used to working a lot of hours, and am pretty darn tough, and I'm still surprised at how this surgery kicked my ass! I also felt like it must just be me, because so many people come on here and say they feel fine. Anyway, each day does get a little better. You'll probably gradually notice it over time, but by about 6 weeks, I was doing great. Now, at 6 months, I feel better than I have in years. Just hang tight, find something you enjoy to occupy your time, and you'll be up and running in no time!

So great, you look wonderful!! I just bought that same dress, same color! You look great in it. Don't know about you, but I was pretty thrilled to be able to buy it in the "regular" size clothes!

You mention your high weight was 360 - when was that? It looks like you've lost a lot of weight! I think that regardless of how much we have to lose, after a while, it just slows down. Our bodies get more efficient, it takes fewer calories to sustain us, so the defecit of calories is less than it was at a higher weight. But, to answer your question, I don't think you are a slow loser, I think you are doing great!

Yesterday was my 6 month post op date, and I'm so happy I've lost over 90 pounds! Never thought I'd be able to say that or accomplish it in that amount of time! Some times it seems like it's going pretty slow, but when I look at progress over time, I think it's pretty good! Best thing I ever did for myself!

Not only is it possible, you CAN do it. That's what I love about the sleeve...I'm sure you have restriction. Proud Grammy gave you the "rules", and if you do them, you will succeed. Stress is one of the hardest things to overcome (for me) when attempting to manage my weight. One thing that helps me manage stress is physical activity. Doesn't even have to be overly strenuous. It's hard to make myself do it somedays, but I'm totallly shocked at how well it helps! Best of luck!

That had to be horrific to live through, but what a great read! Thanks for sharing your hard learned lesson