Dr-Patient

I totally agree and understand. It seems that everyone is freakin' crazy these days!! Men have SOOOO lost their way. That said (and I know that many of you won't like this, but...) I feel that the 'women's movement' jacked up a lot of men. Men don't know when to compliment a woman [for fear of getting charged with harassment]; if they can hold the door, or pull out a chair. All these women with "I can get it myself," or "I don't need a man for a,b,c,." or...whatever. Men are often 'weaker' emotionally [oddly!], and their emotions don't process as well as we might think they should. That said, all this family dysfunction, etc. It's all related. But yes, men are crazy these days. But to hear men tell it, women are too, but I don't know cuz I don't roll that way. Male and female--the way God made us. But yes, we have to now deal with folks who no longer know how to relate, how to court, schmooze, or just be appropriate anymore. All around sad times, on so many fronts, in modern society.

Just sharing, if interested: The CDC issues a report on obesity, Hispanics, diabetes, etc.: http://connect.asmbs.org/july-2015-cdc-hispanic-study.html

I am a very private person. I don't share my personal business with people, except perhaps a very few of my proven, trusted "inner circle" friends. However, other than the two guys who helped me (one, for transport; and one, to house me for a couple of days), only two of my closest friends know I had wls, and those two live out of town. I just didn't tell folks, not even the neighbor in front of me. In this day of so many people sharing their everything with folks (known and unknown, online, etc!!), it may seem hard for some to keep their personal affiars to themselves...but if you don't want to tell folks, then DON'T. It's your life. Your decision. It's not their business. Besides, many people have their own (uninformed) thoughts; you don't need them confounding you, nor do you need to defend your informed ones. Don't tell if you don't want to, and don't feel bad for keeping your private business private. Period. if people ask, "what are you doing to lose so much weight!!?", etc.,[present tense--"are"]... I say "I'm eating mostly Protein. I cut out the white stuff, the carbs, etc." And that's the truth. IF it's someone I know well, and i know they are depressed about their weight (as I was), and they specifically ASK, then I will tell them I had wls. But they, too, must be someone I know I can tell and they won't put it on blast to whomever. yesterday, I saw a post [here] about some co-worker telling others that a co-worker (the poster here) had had wls. [!!!] In today's world, people don't have filters or common sense. Privacy is not respected. So, respect your own. If you're a "private person," then don't violate your comfort zone. You'll regret it, if you do. Respect your personal space and spirit.

I use one every day when deliberately trying to get in my water/evening fluids. No problems. Easier for me to get good gulps.

Sorry to hear of your self-inflicted injury to your hip. But I can relate to the not exercising thing. I MUST exercise to get off the last 25 I want to lose, but I'm just not. I'm so mad at myself. So, yes, you/we are not alone.

I was done as an out-patient. If you're relatively low risk, one night should be fine.

You look great, and happy. Enjoy the new you!

That sounds like a very loose approach to post-VSG surgery. Wow. 3/4 of a burger, just 11 days out sounds like a lot to me. The incision/Staple line hasn't healed., etc. Tell your doctor to give you better post-op guidance, or maybe she needs to revisit the guidelines. I'd go r-e-a-l slow with food So soon out.

@@Elode Yea. And I'll take my current naked pic over my obese naked picture (>75 pounds ago). I'll get the rest off...before a big party in August.

I was lamenting my tummy roll today. I'm looking for a great, sexy semi formal, blinged out dress. Saw one. Tried on the 12, that would have been perfect except my tummy prohibits it. Oh well. And I have GOT to get back on track to reach my goal. I've been eating more than I should, including a few carbs. I actually gained a few pounds. Aaagh. Help. Pray.

I'd follow the doctor's instructions. [but, I'm a pelvic surgeon, so I'm biased.] :-) Seriously, it's just four more days; follow your doctor's advice. There's a reason we tell you things.

It may not be a matter of feeling "embarrassed." More, just that it's none of their business. You knew what you wanted to do, and did. That's what matters. I only told a very few people; the rest? Nope!

Just the latest insult to what was the purity of the medical profession. I grieve. And more than ever, patients must be ever-proactive and alert about all of your medical care, services, medical records.

Yes, they'll see it. If you don't want to say you had WLS, then don't. If they ask "what are you doing to lose weight?" (current tense), Tell them you're just eating mostly Protein, you "cut out the carbs", etc. If you want, keep a glass of Water in your hand to sip on, and it won't be so noticeable that you can't eat much. Have fun. Smile and be sexy. Embrace it.

Check your blood pressure; do you have a BP machine? Plus, you might not be able to hydrate as needed just yet. My blood pressure (usually elevated a bit) dropped to 80/50 two weeks after my VSG. I had to suck on some potato chips to just give me a little salt and get my pressure up a bit. But I didn't swallow them. Really, I didn't! :-) PS: It all gets better!

You had your surgery March 30; you're not really active, and you've lost 38 pounds. I don't see the problem. You're doing fine. (???)

@@HopeandAgony Suggestion: you might want to check your sodium intake with those pickles, olives and lunch meat. You might drop even more without all that salt. Just a thought.

I didn't read your full post; but congrats on your success so far. ( I did read your last paragraph.) ( I need your exercise mindset!)

And when she said that, did you think, "well, heck! If I could do that, I probably wouldn't be needing this surgery, now would I?" :-) I'm sure others here will have some good ideas for you. Do what you must. Get ready for a new you!

You look great. Looks like your surgeon did an excellent job! Good to see!

Wow. I'm surprised to see so many of you being able to get in so much--Clear liquids or otherwise--so early in the process. I could barely get in my water/clear liquids; that went on for a few months...for which I'm grateful. My very first post to this site in 2013 was 3 weeks after my VSG and my issue was I couldn't drink Water to anywhere approximate requested amounts. I'd say just don't push it. Trust me; the time will later come when you will want your stomach to fill easily. i.e., it does get easier to take in more food as time progresses. We still have to be mindful of amounts of food, and eat slowly; be sure to listen to your stomach 'saying' it's full.

@@Bluesea71 Does it have sucralose/Splenda in it? Please advise. Thanks.

Just guzzle it down; try not to stop. Get through that cringing "shudder" you'll likely do :-). It'll be over in a few minutes. Also, rinse out your mouth immediately afterwards and have a thorat lozenge nearby to suck on, to kill that yucky taste in your mouth. [MgCitrate is gross...but usually effective!] Your doc is just trying to clean out your intestines a bit before he/she operates. Some docs Rx it; others, don't. Enjoy...the eventual weight loss. Keep that in mind. :-) Good luck.

When in the pre-WLS world, most of us likely used the word "cheated" a lot if we ate something we shouldn't have. Now, if I eat something that's not Protein, or not on the strict WLS regimen, I don't feel that I "cheat," but it is a choice to have this or that, especially since I can't have that much of it. But, yes, too many of those "choices" will jack me up (and they sometimes have...since I've been fighting carbs after I chose to eat them in the last 3 months. Groan. But doing better with protein this week.) Just sharing [totally off topic]: Your post immediately made me think about a recent article in an Atlanta, GA newspaper; it began with "Choices." It was about the teachers who chose to change students' test scores. The judge gave the "cheating" educators many chances to own their deeds and choose to plead, and some didn't. As a result of their 'choices,' some now have serious consequences. The article is here, I don't know if it will open for you: http://shar.es/1p3oxp But, minimally, it began with: "Choices. We make them everyday; from the mundane to the life-changing. We can choose to do good, or evil. Right, or wrong. We choose to tell truths. Or lies. We choose to admit wrongdoing; or deny our misdeeds — even to ourselves."

I concur with many suggestions above; consider and answer yourself honestly: --Have you been faithful to the regimen of Protein, protein, protein? --Are you drinking lots of Water? --Are you "sneaking" carbs, chips, sodas, candy, etc.? Do you binge? --Exercising? I also suggest that you get a copy of the op note from your surgery. What size bougie did the surgeon use? They can check your insulin and glucose levels, as well. From all of what I can see, and given your height/original weight, you are insulin resistant, I'm pretty sure. Do you drink a lot of 'sugar free' drinks? See if they have Splenda/sucralose. I personally do NOT lose weight with things containing Splenda/sucralose. Maybe it's the same for you. "It tastes like sugar because it's made from sugar," was their phrase. In my body (and others), it acts like sugar, so I have to avoid it. I will not lose anything if I use that stuff; I stall. I use Sweet & Low. IF you've truly done your part, then ask your doctor if she'll do x-rays (upper GI, etc) to check your stomach size now. Maybe the sleeve is too large. But even if it is, if you're doing everything you should--esp PROTEIN, WATER and EXERCISE--it does seem you would have lost more weight than you have. But hang in there, as you get further evaluated. Don't give up.