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Hmm...could there be a VSG love connection under way here?

Most of the stretchy part of your stomach is what's removed when you have the VSG....

Are you taking niacin? (a B vitamin). Sometimes that can cause flushing. Also, you might want to see if your doc can rule out a hormonal influence, such as perimenopause, which can start in your 40s and unfortunately can last a while. Hope you get some answers and it's something easy to treat!

So happy for your Pottergirl! You are doing incredibly well! Go vegetarian sleevers. :)

If your dietitian is anything like mine, he/she will likely be very supportive. Mine is awesome and I sent her some links on email, and then we discussed in person.

It could be lactose intolerance (more likely than "dumping" since that happens very infrequently in VSG vs GBP) as others have said. However, I have had lactose intolerance most of my adult life, and usually I am ok with cheese and yogurt (but not milk or dairy-based ice cream). There's a chance the timing was coincidental and may not be related to the cheese. You can experiment while at home.

If you have an endocrinologist or PCP who normally handles your insulin dosing to treat your diabetes, I would consult with him/her in addition to your surgeon/RD who put you on the liquid plan. You don't want to jeopardize your health during this time and hypoglycemia in a diabetic patient can be very dangerous. I'm sure the dr will understand that you needed to get your blood sugar up. Hope you get things in control soon -- wishing you all the best.

yes, all of that should be okay. Try the Eggface Web site for good protein shake "ice cream" recipes.

I started a thread on the 5:2 intermittent fasting diet that is open to all if anyone is interested: http://www.verticalsleevetalk.com/topic/88259-52-intermittent-fasting-thread-open-to-all/ I'm hoping that we can keep the thread very focused on the plan and share our experiences, including what seems to be working, what doesn't, etc.

I wanted to start a new 5:2 fast thread that is open to everyone--include pre-op and post-op VSGers (there is another thread that you can read but can't post to unless you say you are at least 1 year post-op). Obviously if you are considering this plan, which involves very low calorie intake 2 days a week and eating regularly the other 5, you should do so with your RD's and surgeon's/PCP's approval and guidance. If you are losing well using traditional means, then you might not need it--but it should be up to you and your medical team if you are interested in giving it a try. Here is some info: dinner. For us, that would be tough to do given our capacity, unless we did very calorie dense foods at dinner. For my "feast" days, I'm going to eat regularly (800-950 calories, up to 1100 when exercising hard, if I feel that I need them), and for my fast days I'm going to do Protein shakes with low-carb veggies if desired. Many/most people eat regular foods on fast days. Fast days cannot go over 500 calories, so that will be about 2 to 3 Protein Shakes depending on the source, plus about 100-150 cals of low-carb veggies. I'm going to continue to keep my diet high protein/low carb. I will continue to exercise and am aiming for 100 ounces of Water per day. I will post here to let everyone know how it's going and hope that others will post about their experience as well!

I talked to my dietitian about the 5:2 fast and am doing it under her supervision. It is in keeping with what she has suggested to me even pre-op, which is to shake things up by varying calorie and carb/protein levels during the same calendar week to sort of shock your body. She is an awesome RD. It's not the same as being able to share personal experiences though. I agree that someone who is 3 months out and is losing 5 lbs a week probably doesn't need the 5:2, but I'm hypothyroid secondary to pituitary issues and always have been and always will be a slow loser, and I'm hoping this plan will shake things up enough that I can lose at least 2 pounds a week. I have a ways to go to goal.

My guess is that people might not know that something is posted in a specific gender area. I think most people read posts by looking at what's new in the RH side of posts, and you don't really see there what forum something has been posted in.

How long did it take you to eat it? I am just wondering what is going on with your sleeve, because even pre-surgery, I obviously was obese and I couldn't eat a whole one of those costco bagels or I would feel uncomfortably full. Our RD says if you are really craving a bagel, you can eat 1/4 of one (but that's a regular sized one, so for costco it might be 1/6 or 1/8--or maybe you could scoop out some of the guts and do 1/4). What if you told yourself you could have 1/4 with guts scooped out if you REALLY want it AFTER you've eaten your Protein for that meal? I play little mind tricks like that on myself and then most times I won't end up eating the coveted food. I did that last night at dinner based on what my husband was eating--first I had protein, then broccoli, then I had no room left for Pasta (I don't really even like pasta but for some reason it looked good last night, I think bc I couldn't have it). I'm so sorry that you are fighting the head hunger battle--I think that nearly everyone does. It's GREAT that you are working with a therapist. Wishing you all the best.

thanks for the great feedback, everyone. Cindymg, I didn't know that about slacks--very good to know. The slacks aren't as bad to buy new and you can really get by with black slacks and nice blazers (and even wear the slacks with more than one blazer/blouse/shirt and accessories for different looks), so that wouldn't be bad. I feel like I look okay when I leave the house but then sometimes I see myself in a full-length mirror and I am swimming in my slacks and look a bit dumpy.

I am so disappointed that the group requires you to a be a year out. Some of us have to try something new even being 5 or 6 months out. I can see not opening it to people who are immediately post op but it seems restrictive to have the 1-year requirement. You can read the group, you just can't post to it. There's actually a lot of interesting info on it not related to the 5:2 fast. What I would love to see are some examples of what people eat on fast days. I've read the plan and am going to be starting this soon. I'm going to do protein shakes and low-carb veggies on my fast days.

ugh subject line should say clothes. Need coffee.

Has anyone gotten clothes altered while the scale is still moving down? I have something coming up where I need to dress in formal business attire for several days in a row, and I just don't have many suits or blazers that fit anymore (yay). But some are really good quality like Ann Taylor or Talbot's and I'm just wondering if it's worth getting them tailored vs buying new clothes that I hopefully won't be able to wear for long. And I'm on a really tight budget right now--so I want to see if I can sell some of my nicer pieces on consignment or on ebay at some point. Although that will be tough if I get them altered since the sizes won't match the tags.... Appreciate any advice.

I think originally the VSG was the first part of the duodenal switch in severely obese people because they wanted patients to lose some of the weight with the sleeve before moving on the the duodenal switch to make it less risky. Then "they" saw how well some patients were doing just with the VSG, which is how it came into vogue as a standalone procedure. The DS is malabsorptive like GBP, though they are different procedures that affect the anatomy differently. Personally I just went with VSG bc I didn't want a malabsorptive procedure.

awww Kathy, couldn't you still go and not do the clambake itself (expensive when you don't eat much!) and enjoy everyone's company?

Have you thought about getting a 2nd opinion?

I have knee issues too so I can sympathize. Have you thought about going to a physical therapist? Mine was great and showed me all kinds of exercise I could do even with my bum knee. Riding the bike is a GREAT one but you really need the PT to show you the right way to do it. Dependiing on what the issue is, they can also give you strengthening exercises to do at home and/or on the equipment at the gym. Also, water aerobics are great and you can modify if there's anything hard on the knees (I tell my instructor and she gives me ideas to modify, but really as long as you keep moving you're good). Also, what about gentle walking? Hang in there--your weight loss is GREAT for 2 months even if it does slow down a bit. Make sure you are getting plenty of water and protein.

Wishing you all the best!

Way to go, Tigerbelle!!!!!!

There's something called the "three week stall" which started for me at two weeks. Hang in there--your body is adjusting. Look at it this way--even if you don't lose until 4 weeks, that's an average 5 pound per week loss. Keeping rocking it.

I'm assuming part of the reason you got VSG was to decrease your risk of (or existing) comorbidities of obesity and to help give you a longer, healthier life. So smoking would kind of defeat the purpose, wouldn't it? On the bright side, if you die young from bladder cancer, lung cancer or just suffer for years with COPD, you will probably be doing it in a smaller clothing size. So no, I wouldn't start smoking.