sunny2day

The before pictures are me at my highest weight of 241 in July of 2013. The current pictures are me at 151 in October 2014. What a difference 91 pounds make.

Congratulations on your set date.

I'm so glad that you chose Dr. G, I think you will really be pleased with his skills. He is really a great doctor. I have an appointment with him tomorrow. It will be my fourth follow up since surgery. Post op you will see him every 6 weeks with the sleeve. Good luck on your journey and congratulations.

I'm a patient of Dr. Gantas here in Austin. I was sleeved on 1/14/14 and I could not be happier. Dr. G is so supportive and knowledgable. He has been chief of surgery all over the world literally. I attend a weight loss group monthly here in Austin and I would say he is one of the most respected doctors for professionalism and bedside manner before and after surgery here in the bariatric community. I attribute a large part of my success to his struck rigiman. I could not be more great flu to him. I was lucky and did not endure a single problem post op, but a lot of my friends at the weight loss meetings who see him and did have problems post op say he is very good at aggressively treating any issues that would arise. Also when you call after hours and leave a message he personally calls you back. I actually did this on a Sunday a week after surgery. It really impresses me how involved with patient care he is. Good luck in your decision.

Sunny,

I have decided to go with Dr. Ganta! His seminar was very informative, and my one-on-one consult was wonderful. I had a consult with Dr. Kim, too. While I know he's more than competent as a surgeon - he told me himself how skilled he is ;^) - I did not have the instant rapport that I did with Dr. Ganta. Dr. G seems so concerned and invested in my personal success, and I know that if I'm putting forth my best effort, he will help me tailor my follow-up so that I can get the most out of my sleeve. He was so patient and I never once felt rushed or intimidated by him. I look forward to working with him - July 1st can't get here fast enough!

I was sleeved 1/16/2014 and the first two weeks I lost 14 pounds. I had no complications, went back to work after 2 weeks, and was meeting my Protein and liquid goals by that 2nd week. Then I stalled for almost three full weeks. It has been like that ever since. I will loose 10 pounds and then stall for three weeks. I count calories, protein, fat, and carbs. I exercise and I still have stalls but eventually the scale moves again. Good luck on your journey. Keep doing what your doctor has planned for you and it will work out.

I'm a patient of Dr. Gantas here in Austin. I was sleeved on 1/14/14 and I could not be happier. Dr. G is so supportive and knowledgable. He has been chief of surgery all over the world literally. I attend a weight loss group monthly here in Austin and I would say he is one of the most respected doctors for professionalism and bedside manner before and after surgery here in the bariatric community. I attribute a large part of my success to his struck rigiman. I could not be more great flu to him. I was lucky and did not endure a single problem post op, but a lot of my friends at the weight loss meetings who see him and did have problems post op say he is very good at aggressively treating any issues that would arise. Also when you call after hours and leave a message he personally calls you back. I actually did this on a Sunday a week after surgery. It really impresses me how involved with patient care he is. Good luck in your decision.

You are still really early in the process. It will take you a few weeks to master the Protein, Fluid, and calorie combo. Or now constantly sip as much as you can. As you heal the violume you can tolerate will improve. I think feeling sad after surgery can be a normal response. We are making a life changing decision, it's major so I don't think tree is any wrong emotion when it comes to this. You will feel so much better at you six week post op. Give yourself time to rest and process for now. This is the time for that. I wish you the best of luck in your journey:)

I am so sorry you are going through this. I had an infection in my abdomen and had to have my tummy cut open and left open until it was done healing much like what you are describing. I could not stand the pain of having them clean out the open abdomen every eight hours that luckily my surgeon suggested a wound vac. It saved so much pain and promoted a significantly faster healing process. Ask your surgeon if there are any wound care facilities in your area and if they have the wound vac. Good luck, I know this is a very hard but know there is light at the end of the tunnel. Keep your chin up.

I am taking berry flavored soft chewables by Celebrity. If I had to describe the texture, they remind me of a starburst. They also don't taste horrible. Sometimes I make believe it's candy, lol.

I have UHC, Sunny2day

It's similar to my insurance Blue Cross Blue Sheild. All you have to have is one comorbity with a BMI of 35+. It can be high cholesterol, sleep apnia, etc. if you have never been tested for these things, then your surgeon will order these tests for you. Good luck

I thought my BMI when I went to my consult was 38 also but when they took my actual height without shoes I found out I was really only 5'4 instead of the 5'6 I wrote down which pushed my BMI over 40. Who is your insurance through. Also when I went for my initial consult with the surgeon he ordered a sleep study and we found out I have mild sleep apnea which is all I needed to be approved. Good Luck.

I too have been very open about it from the day I decided to go to a seminar to learn about weight loss surgery. What surprised me I think was the ones closest to me who have seen me struggle my whole adult life with obesity did not understand. They would try and convince me of other means to loose the weight. Or they were skeptical and assumed since I could not loose it the TRADITIONAL way, (exercise and eating habits), then I must be looking for a quick fix. What they don't realize is how exhausting it is to constanty struggle with health issues daily because of your obesity, or how depressing it is emotionally to be considered obese, or how hard you really try to work at it but without the tool, its only a matter of time before you fall of the wagon. What I have learned is that when someone decides to give me a negative opinion or advise, I simply tell them I am choosing to look at the positive side of the process and sure there may be complications or rocks in the road but when your obese you fight these obstacles daily so what have you truly got to loose? Maybe I wont loose any weight or maybe I will loose it all but without trying I'll never know. As far as the risk with weight loss surgery, I took a risk every day that I am obese just getting out of bed and hoping I don't have a heart attack or any severe life threatening issues as a result of my prolonged obesity. Never be ashamed of your decision, this is a decision that only you can make for yourself. Good Luck with your journey.

I was sleeved and on 01/14/2014, I have been very fortunate to not have any issues after surgery so far. I went back to work after two weeks but I do not lift or bend at my job. I sit and work at a computer. I probably could have went back the 2nd week but it took everything I had to learn my new requirements and work hard to meet my requirements. Water 64+ ounces a day, Protein 70+ grams a day, and calories for me was 800 a day. Good Luck and just know no matter how easy or difficult the recovery may be for you, you will make it through and look back one day at it as a distant memory.

I am four weeks post op and the same exact thing happened to me. Right out of surgery I lost 10 pounds and then gained like 3 pounds and then nothing until the very end of week 3 when all of a sudden I lost 10 pounds again. Its really weird what the body does. But I think right before you loose or it lets go it stores as much of whatever you are giving it until it has no choice but to let it go. Don't worry about the scale, it will move sooner or later but it will move. Focus on getting fluids, calories, and Protein and focus on taking your Vitamins and starting a routine. Once you get this down the rest will fall into place. Good luck, one day at a time, this is a lifetime journey.

I just had my sleeve done 4 weeks ago. I am on pureed foods and a few bites of pureed meat and I am stuffed. I honestly don't think I will ever make it to vegetables once I am eating a normal meat with meat, vegie, and starch. I am wondering for those of you that have been sleeved and are one year or more out, how much food can you eat at one meal and what type of things do you eat as a meal?

Hello Mamato2,

I was sleeved on 1/14 also and day of surgery I was at 224, 5'4. The first week I lost 10 pounds, then the second week 2 pounds, 3rd week 2 pounds, and now I have lost another since yesterday 2 pounds so I am back at 208. I just started purred food yesterday. Im not allowed to exercise until 6 weeks post op but I do walk about a mile everyday. I was just wondering what your caloric intake is at. My NUT and doc have me at 800-900 calories a day. I also drink 64+ ounces of Fluid a day and 70-100g of Protein per day. What does your doc have your goals set to. Remember we are still healing and honestly 14 pounds in 3 weeks is not bad.(4.6 pounds a week). If we continue to loose at that rate, that is 119 pounds in 6 months which is really good. These doctors get so tied up in the numbers but if you are getting the combo of your fluids, calories, and Protein in and doing exercise daily it will come off. My NUT said our tummys are still in a state of shock and that as we loose weight the scale will stop moving for a week or so here and there while it catches up and then start dumping it again. She said this will continue to happen the whole time if we stay the course. I have had to be reminded this weight did not appear overnight, it was several years in the making and that if we work the sleeve as a tool it is it will work for us. I know this is hard but try to weigh maybe 2 x's a week. Also I started making of list of things I can do now that I could not do 3 weeks ago, such as cross my legs without extreme uncomfort, I can get up from a sitting position without help or without doing the roll over, lol. Also I have taken pictures from the front and side once a week to see the progress and I also measured myself. During the time that the scale was not moving the measurements were so that told me the scale will move once the body has caught up. Try to stay positive, this is a lifetime journey and a lot of people continue to loose after the six month mark. Don't let your doctor add stress to this journey, you got this.

Same here sleeved 1/14 and was able to start chicken this week I have had a text book recovery some soreness nothing unmanageable and eating small amounts is no joke so far I've hit the dreaded 2-3 week stall hoping to be over that soon!
These are amazing stories! I saw my surgeon for follow up today he told me if I don't lose to my goal weight in 6 months I've failed the sleeve? That this tool works best in 6 months and the rest is maintaining! He said if I don't work out and burn 1000 calories a day I won't lose? Wow do you work out this much?? I love your stories I was day if surgery 224 now 210 stalled for a week now and am freaking out!

Wow you look amazing. What a great feeling that must be. Good luck on your continued journey.

Ok, I spoke to my NUT and she said to go ahead and start puréed food today. She said I am right on track and doing everything correctly. Said to wait two more weeks before I can exercise more extensively than walking. I just purred 4.0 ounces of chicken breast and oh my goodness what a difference. After four spoon full I am full. Wow, I feel the restriction now, this is amazing:)

Thank you so much for your encouragement Mcbutterpants, I really needed that boost of encouragement. I will be attending my first support group meeting next week and I think the encouragement from others will also put me at ease. It helps or is encouraging to hear from others, thanks again.

^{I had my surgery on January 14, 2014 and I too was walking around the hospital about six hours after surgery and went home the next day. I have been able to get my Protein, fluids, and calories in since the fourth day after surgery. I am still on full liquids and get to graduate to purees on Tuesday and I am so ready. I am starting to feel hungry now. I have only lost 14 pounds since surgery but I am hoping that once I start exercising at six weeks this will come down even more. I track everything though including my Vitamins, lol Good Luck on your journey and consider yourself very lucky, I know I do:)}

I am almost 4 weeks post op and since surgery I have only lost 14 pounds. I started this journey at 241 pounds, 5'4, bmi 41. I managed to get down to 224 on my date of surgery. I did not cheat during my pre op diet and I have tracked everything in my post op diet. From the moment I woke up from surgery I was able to get out of bed and start walking. I did not have any pain or complications so far. I went home from the hospital the next day and started my Clear liquids diet for two weeks. My doctor wants me to make sure and get 64+ ounces of Water a day and 70-100g of Protein a day, also do not exceed 800-900 calories a day. I managed to get these goals by day 4 and have had no problems since. Then at two weeks I was graduated to full liquids. My diet right now looks a lot like this:

Glass of water in the morning (With my Prilosec)

Protein shake - Body Fortress from Walmart with 150 calories and 30g of protein

dannon light greek vanilla yourgert with 80 calories and 12g of protein

Protein Shake - Body Fortress from Walmart with 150 calories and 30g of protein (lunch)

water, water, water all day long

strained creamed Soups of some sort which average 80-100 calories per serving (1/2 cup) and I usually have 2 1/2 servings

I also use Mootopia fat free milk which has 90 calories per cup and depending on how many calories I am up to I will use 1 cup or 1/2 cup in Soup, it also has 12g of protein per cup

Celebration Bariatric Vitamins which comes out to 110 calories a day

So I am really good about staying in my 800-900 calories

The first week after surgery I lost 10 pounds

The second week after surgery I lost 2 pounds

The third week after surgery I did not loose

The fourth week I have lost 2 pounds

I can not exercise until after 6 weeks and I am hoping this makes a huge difference when I start but right now I am really discourged because I want to loose more faster and I am scared that I am not going to loose a significant amount of my weight and be considered a failure. I utilize my fitness pal to track everything. I walk probably a mile each day and yet I am moving slow. I am also hungry a lot more lately which really is hard to fight off. My stomach literally growels. I know it is not the weird noises people talk about because that's what it does when I eat. Any suggestions, feedback, or encouragement is greatly appreciated, I am just feeling low right now about my loss.

Thank you Lainey3074. It gives comfort when people who have gone through this can relate and understand what we are describing in each step. Also it makes me feel like this is normal and I am not a strange case, lol. Day for day and minute for minute if that is what it takes.

Congrats to you both. Week 1 is certainly the worst! I encourage you both to just take it easy, take your meds, get lots of rest and don't stress! You will improve. I am 1 month out and still don't get my liquids in and sometimes I don't get my Protein. Just do your best, knowing that it will get better.

I had my surgery January 14th also and I came home yesterday. I had to have a hiatial hernia repaired in addition to sleeve. I think I'm in shock also at how hard it is to get the required liquids in. I have to stay on a clear liquid diet for two weeks post op. So far my tummy makes lots of sounds and all I can drink are two sips at best. Also when it gets to my stomach there is a tight pressure pain feeling that comes and goes real quick. But it's taking everything I got to get fluids in. They say week 1 is the worst, right?

Having bcbs federal basic can you tell me what your out of pocket was or do u have standard?

I had to pay 150.00 to my doctor and 40.00 for all the test and 175.00 per day in the hospital. I have bcbs basic federal:)

I was very shocked with the holidays and all how fast I was approved. Once it is submitted you can call customer service and they can check to see if an approval letter is sent. I called every 2 days. Once I got my letter it had the wrong dates on it so the doctors office had to call to get it changed but no big deal. I am scheduled for Tuesday January 14, 2014 to be sleeved. I am very optimistic but very nervous all at the same time now that its a reality. Wishing you all the luck in the world on your journey:)

I have bcbs fed and my doc is submitting all my paper work Monday. The doctor say that I will most likely be approved ..but still very nervous they will reject me. I have met all the requirements....so I'm praying and crossing my fingers.

I am just wonder how long after being sleeved most people went back to work?