lark60

The key is to look at the positive. You are loosing and not gaining weight. I have been in the same situation and am currently 29 weeks post sleeve (tomorrow). My weight loss has slowed to about 1 lb a week for the past 2 months. I have tried several different things (less calories, more calories, more Water, more Protein, more exercise) but the weight just doesn't seem to budge. I will loose 2 lbs in one day then gain 1 lb the next day. I have tried not checking my weight daily (sometimes AM and PM when I am obsessing about weight. The only thing this does is cause me more stress and that in turn slows weight loss. So.... I chant to myself that I am loosing weight slowly so the weight will stay off. When I am tempted (friends never understand the sabotage they offer to my goal at this time of year with all the goodies they bake) I tell myself that by sticking to my goals now, I will enjoy the holidays next year in a smaller body. Hang in there (what else can you do...have them put back the excised stomach?!?)

Before my surgery I would have agreed that supplements are a waste of money. (and I have told many a patient not to waste the money on excess supplements) At 3 months my labs were terrible (every Vitamin level was low) I started taking double Multivitamin, extra vit A-B12-C-D, Calcium, zinc, Iron, magnesium and prescription Potassium chloride. My Breakfast seems to be a "pill feast" with the Protein shake to wash them down. I just had my 6 month labs and all my vitamin levels are within the normal range! So..... I would answer the question about the worth of Vitamins after VSG as a definite YES they are important.

I had the sleeve at the end of May, started having "hand full" of hair falling out at about 4 months post sleeve. Now my hair is very thin (but still covers my scalp) and there is all kinds of short new hair growth so I am hopeful the loss is done and the new growth will replace what I lost. I was glad to read that 7 months seems to be the end point to the hair loss! As for vitamins…. I take so many supplements now I don't think I could have tolerated another pill. I just hope all the ones I take now will take care of things. (the 3 month labs were terrible and I had to double most of my Vitamins plus add prescription strength potassium, zinc, mag and Vit A&D. I just had my 6 month labs and all Vitamin levels were actually within the normal range so I will continue to choke down the hand full of pills each meal time)

I had the same problem and was actually "starving" because I could not eat enough. My weight loss stalled because of this and so I decided I had to get creative. First I found if I used less liquid to make the Protein shakes (especially the chocolate ones) they became a pudding. More protein in smaller quantity of food! I also found I could cut the sweetness by adding tart fruit puree (that added fruit back into my diet too) I would mix a vanilla shake with mango or peach puree (I would use about 2 oz of puree to an 8 oz shake) At six weeks I was still only able to take in 3 oz at a sitting so the one shake would take all day to get down. Next I would mix cottage cheese and greek yogurt (the kind that has 2x protein) I would have this as an afternoon snack (yes my doctor said no snacking but if I didn't get my calorie count up I was going to end up back in the hospital) Even though I would mix the 2 dairy products they worked well together. The greek yogurt is tart and the cottage cheese is bland but together I found a nice treat (again I ate 2 oz of the mix once a day) As the time has gone by I am able to drink 6 oz of Protein Shake for Breakfast and dinner. My lunch is either Soup (with extra protein added usually meat) or a salad or 1/2 a sandwich using the flat bread that is high protein. I still have 2 oz of yogurt/cottage cheese as an afternoon snack. I have also used string cheese sticks as a snack in the afternoons. My shakes are a mix of several different types of protein to keep the boredom down. I use low sugar Fruit drinks (like V8 fusion) in place of half the Water to make a shake and use either the vanilla, strawberry or Mango Protein powder. I still mix up the chocolate as a pudding and have even frozen the mix to make popsicles. The best combo for this is the adkin's premixed chocolate shake with a scoop of whey based chocolate protein powder (no extra liquid added) I think the fat in the adkin's shake is what makes this the best for pudding. I have even added a spoonful of whipped cream for a treat.

I feel the same about how I look. My coworkers and family say they see the difference. I know I am in a smaller size (was wearing a size 26 pre-op and now wear size 14) but I see the same person in the mirror except for the changes from starving for 6 months: my hair falling out (over 1/2 thus far and my pony tail is almost non-existent), large floppy arms, flabby stomach and bum. I do not see a slimmer person in the mirror. I had my 6 month check up today at the doctors and after I started crying, he prescribed antidepressants. I know I am under stress (work, personal and legal stuff) but body image is not helping. Not sure antidepressants will help either but I am going to give them a chance.

Hello I had my sleeve procedure (and my gall bladder out at the same time) with the spider procedure. I had a single incision through the belly button (the cut started below and to the right side, extended through the belly button and goes about an inch above) the only other "hole" is a puncture site for a probe used to lift the liver for the gall bladder surgery. I am very happy with the results and the recovery was less pain than I expected.

you will be able to enjoy food again, just not in the quantity you were consuming before the surgery (I had the same worries). I am 5 months out from the sleeve procedure and I had my first slice of pepperoni pizza today (my birthday celebration at work) I was able to eat the entire slice (the most food I have eaten in 5 months) and though I was worried about weight gain, I wanted the pizza and allowed myself to enjoy the party. You will have days when you doubt the decision, and worry you will never enjoy a meal again. The time after the surgery is short considering the rest of your life at a normal weight. Hang in there. List the pros and cons to the surgery. If you still have doubts, postpone the surgery till you feel it is right, but don't let this be the sabotage that keeps you from meeting your goal to get down to a healthy weight.

Ok, so I will add my "confession". I hit a plateau and after the surgeon told me I was "starving myself" and needed more calories, I gave in to my parents taunts and eat chips when I go to their house. They have the single serving regular lays chips. And I sometime have a hand full of peanut M&M's. Though I feel this is "cheating" and empty calories (ok I consider chocolate a food group and peanuts have "good fat" right?!?) I started loosing weight after I added this to my weekly routine. (actually 3-4 times a week) Now I have to go to my parents

I thought the information was presented well and I like your humor! The shaker sound did garble your presentation a few times but otherwise kudos to you!

Contrats!

I have just started to notice the hair loss (my brush is full of long hairs that is double what I usually find after brushing my hair) but also have TONS of new hair growth that is 2-3 inches long. I think the current hair loss will not be that much of an issue since there is new growth.

My surgery was through the single incision through the belly button (not hidden like they advertised) and weeped for about 6 weeks from the base of my belly button. The cut measures an inch below and another 1.5 inches above. The total length is about 4 inches because of the way the cut dips into my belly button. I am not complaining about the incision, I am glad I agreed to the single incision (just didn't realized I was the first the surgeon tried this on and the line is not exactly straight. Anyway, the answer to you concern, yes I had a long healing but now at 16 weeks post op the incision is healed and smaller than right after the surgery.

Just curious but why did you have a picc line? I wasn't able to tolerate anything more than cottage cheese and yogurt at 4 weeks post sleeve. as for runny eggs, not a fav for me but I was able to eat them scrambled. Soft food stage:( Protein items) cottage cheese, yogurt, string cheese, refried Beans (water them down the first time or they will come back up) There are other soft foods but stick with the protein ones to start so you don't slow your weight loss with the carbs. I am 14 weeks out and still drink Protein shakes for my main protein consumption. I eat 1 meal a day that is usually a Soup with high protein count (since I can only eat 1/2 cup at that meal before I am full I add deli meat to increase the protein count) so I get protein and veggies at that meal. To add fruit to my diet, I mix the fruit into the protein shakes. Wish you the best and yes I still feel afraid to add foods to my diet.

Hello all I am new to this site and happy I have found others who are in the medical profession and have an interest in the vertical sleeve. I hope to meet others and learn as I go on this journey to the new me!

I just joined this site. As for your first question: how many incisions? I had the single incision procedure (though the incision extended just above and below the belly button so it is NOT hidden in the belly button). It took about 6 weeks for the incision to completely heal. The base of my belly button seemed to ooze for weeks but the surgeon was "happy" with the healing. I just packed my belly button with guaze to absorb the ooze and keep my clothing clean. Now my scar is small and healed. I am glad I only have the one incision.

I was googling for support groups and came upon this site.

Might want to have your surgeon check your labs, sometimes low energy is related to low potassium

congrats on setting a date. The time will fly!

I am 4 months post op and just started adding salads back into my diet. I make sure there is plenty of protein and eat the salad slowly. Though I make "half a salad" I still eat half of that and it takes about 90 minutes to eat. I enjoy salads and am glad to get back into eating them while it is still warm outside (don't like them much in the winter)

I am at week 15 post op and tried my first salad today. I had red leaf lettuce and spinach leaves with "broccoli slaw and slivered carrots", 1 roma tomato, cheddar cheese (shredded) and the mini turkey rounds (the slices are the size of pepperoni) I added my fav dressing (basalmic vinegrette) and was able to eat about 1/2 the mix (about 1/2 cup total) The dressing seemed very strong to me which is a first. I didn't even use a teaspoon of dressing. I was happy I didn't have any stomach problems and this was my first attempt at fresh veggies. Next time I will try a different salad dressing though

I had the same problem and the nutritionist told me I was "eating too fast". She recommended smaller spoon (I now use the baby food spoon) and to "savor the flavor" of each bite before swallowing. It did help the food go down.

sipping water helps to fill your stomach and get rid of the hunger pangs.

I take mine with water. I also have spaced them over the entire day since I have to double up on several. (my 12 week post op labs were not great and I am very low on several of the vitamins) Sometimes I feel I "eat more pills" than real food.

To answer JS's question "Why 1 meal and soup"... The surgeon I was going to recommended 2 shakes a day and 1 meal. As for why soup.... It is the easiest thing to make that has protein and cooked veggies. Since I work and take my lunch, the soups are simple and I can make up a few "meals" in advance. I have tried adding new foods and find that either I cannot tolerate them yet, or I stop loosing weight so omit those foods for now. My surgeon advised me to focus on using the shakes when weight loss slows.

I am 13 weeks out and my 1 meal a day I work on making Soups with high Protein (I pick a Soup that has high protein and low carb count per serving and then add deli chicken, turkey or ham to up the protein gms). The other days lunch is a sandwich with multigrain flatbread (9gm protein) deli meat and low fat cheese. Snacks are string cheese or cottage cheese mixed with yogurt (2-3 oz) and of course, the famous Protein shakes for 2 meals a day. I tried a chicken pot pie soup (added a can of mixed veggies and a can of chicken) the mix made 6 meals since I can only eat about 1/2 cup at a time. This was my first soup combo and I have made it for a potluck (I topped the mixture with crescent rolls and baked it to brown the rolls) and it was a hit at the party.