mysleeveid13

So sorry to hear about the reflux and heart burn. Those are very unpleasant symptoms . I was prescribed protonix post surgery to take daily for 3 months as a precaution. Most days I forget to take it though. I remember reading that reflux/heartburn are the most common side effects post surgery and stomach ulcers are the #1 long-term serious complication. I remember reading reflux can happen when there is too much restriction. I hope you can find a solution that works for you soon and they discover why it's happening. I'm glad you are being proactive and seeking answers.

Just lost 8 lbs since My last post June 6.
SW 204
CW 171

Looking great, Mschwartz! I love seeing pics like this. It's a big motivator.
I tried on some size 24 jeans on the other day that haven't fit me for a year or more and they fit! They were a bit snug in the waist, but a little loose in the booty (which was surprising) and legs. So I've gone from a size 30 down to a 24. Now just ten more to go down to my goal of size 14!

I just searched this topic because I'm having horrible heartburn! It feels like there is a huge knot in my throat. I'm taking 2 priolosec, carafate, and gaviscon daily and it's very seldom that it feels like it's not there. I think I'm going to ask my surgeon if I should go see a specialist. I'm 8 weeks out. Is there anything you two are taking that seems to help?

14 Months out. Over 90lbs. 5'3" large framed. 144 lbs. couldn't be happier.

I'm five months (almost six) post-op VSG. I'm 73.4 pounds down and stuck in the longest stall, but I'm still seeing changes in my body shape and contour. A long way to go still, but at least I'm going in the right direction.

So I'm struggling to find stuff that fits me because a few years back I decided that anything that I had gotten too big for and I had not worn in a couple of years that I needed to get rid of. Almost like I gave up. Well, we are going back to Six Flags tomorrow so I was trying to find a pair of shorts to wear. I found a pair of 16's that I haven't been able to wear in probably 10 years. Well, they fit and were baggy!!! They are short compared to what I've hidden under for all these years so I felt weird with so much leg showing. My 13 year old daughter was begging me to wear them and she is brutally honest, so it made me feel great! Still no where near where I want to be, but heck, it's only the beginning! Oh and I cried last weekend at Six Flags. It was the first time that I can remember that I didn't try to hide from a camera. I was taking pictures with my kids and it just hit me that I was initiating the pics! This was huge for me as I've felt so guilty because I have no pictures of me when I was a kid with my mom because she hid because of her weight. Sooooo, sorry for the book, but it's amazing how many things we do psychologically, due to our weight and I'm so happy to overcome them one by one! Have a great weekend!!! Thanks for listening!

So I'm struggling to find stuff that fits me because a few years back I decided that anything that I had gotten too big for and I had not worn in a couple of years that I needed to get rid of. Almost like I gave up. Well, we are going back to Six Flags tomorrow so I was trying to find a pair of shorts to wear. I found a pair of 16's that I haven't been able to wear in probably 10 years. Well, they fit and were baggy!!! They are short compared to what I've hidden under for all these years so I felt weird with so much leg showing. My 13 year old daughter was begging me to wear them and she is brutally honest, so it made me feel great! Still no where near where I want to be, but heck, it's only the beginning! Oh and I cried last weekend at Six Flags. It was the first time that I can remember that I didn't try to hide from a camera. I was taking pictures with my kids and it just hit me that I was initiating the pics! This was huge for me as I've felt so guilty because I have no pictures of me when I was a kid with my mom because she hid because of her weight. Sooooo, sorry for the book, but it's amazing how many things we do psychologically, due to our weight and I'm so happy to overcome them one by one! Have a great weekend!!! Thanks for listening!

1) height / weight starting our wls programs, 5'4" 289lb
2) weight day of surgery, 281
3) weight 8 week post op / pounds lost/gained: 254 (lost only 1lb cause of my period I suppose) 35lbs total!!!!
4) goal weight: 140
5) your biggest success this week: I fit into size 18 pants...being able to add "decline pushups" to my workout, I do about 130 crunches daily, walking little better.
6) your biggest struggle this week: trying to walk long distances, did like 2 blocks before my leg and back gave out but thats ok I will continue trying. Im also aiming to lose 3lbs weekly, didnt reach that goal this week I guess cause I had my period so Im hoping I will lose 3lbs for next checkin!
Don't say you CAN'T do something until YOU TRY!

Love this idea!!!!!NSVs are what it's all about!! Just went shopping!
Shirt
Before 2xl now xl
Pant size
Before 22 now 16
Bra
Before 42ddd now 38ddd
I also fit comfy in an airplane seat! Road behind someone on a motorcycle without dropping the back three inches! My office chair is way too big now! My coworkers refer to me as skinny! I'm trying to stay positive everyday. Lots to be thankful for.

1) height / weight starting our wls programs, 5' 7", 236
2) weight day of surgery, 226
3) weight 8 week post op / pounds lost/gained: 197.6 (2.2 pounds lost this week, 38.4 overall)
4) goal weight: 190 by 4th of July, 140 end goal
5) your biggest success this week: avoiding another stall. The scale wasn't budging.... Until this morning!
6) your biggest struggle this week: I still don't exercise with any regularity. I hope to change that this week as my work schedule becomes much lighter in the summer and I will have more free time. I know toning will help with all of the jiggly bits.

EIGHT WEEK CHECKIN!!! 1) height / weight starting our wls programs, 5'9 1/4 290 2) weight day of surgery, 271 3) weight seven week post op / pounds lost/gained, 236 lost 33 (54 since program start & 69 from highest) 4) goal weight-170 realistic 190 5) your biggest success this week, not beating myself up for not being like everyone else and taking it one day at a time6) your biggest struggle this week, going to ohio and trying to eat like I'm a normal person. Result? Throwing up twice as much. This is only temporary.

1) height / weight starting our wls programs, 5' 3", highest weight was 300
2) weight day of surgery-239
3) weight 8 week post op / pounds lost/gained: 209.4 (1.1 pounds lost this week, 30 overall)
4) goal weight: 130
5) your biggest success this week: making it through another work week and went shopping and went down from 22 to an 18 in shorts. My highest pant size was a 26 after I had my daughter.
6) your biggest struggle this week: I still can't get in enough Water or Protein. I started work almost 2 weeks ago and gained 3lbs. So upset that I've gained.

Ugh. That stinks.....I hope it gets better quickly. But congratulations on all the huge accomplishments!
I'm sure it must be awful to throw up each day. I wasn't throwing up but felt like I was going to for about a week and I didn't do well mentally on just liquids. I was cooking for my kids because my husband was out of town and one day I just started bawling. I wanted food so bad. I called my best friend crying. She's very supportive but she had no idea what I was going through. I really was just feeling sorry for myself. It was still very early in the process and I just broke down and I really wasn't sick just mourning food, I guess. Sounds so stupid.
So long story longer....I can totally understand how you can be feeling regret and I hope it gets better quickly. Glad we all are able to talk here. I don't think even our closest family and friends cam relate at all. Go enjoy you new life (as soon as you can....

Butterflypinup - I'm sorry you are regretting surgery. What's going on?
I had a hard time with the Vitamins until I got past the first month of liquids only. I didn't throw up every time but I would get hot all over suddenly and start sweating and get super nauseous wishing I would throw up. But once I started foods that stopped. I still have to hold my nose when I take them and I shudder and get the heebie geebies but I don't have the weird hot flash thing. One of the veterans I know said my body was rejecting the sugar in the Vitamins. I don't know...
My surgeon gave me zofran for my nausea and told me to take my vitamins with applesauce and use sugar free cinnamon candies to help with nausea.
Hope this helps. Makes me sad you are regretting.....looks like your weight loss is great.

I mainly miss guzzling a lot of water! I love Water. In fact, my very first post to this site was about that.
Secondly I miss the actual act of "pigging out" eating a lot of food. Oddly, that is what I do miss; I liked to eat "a lot of food."
But I am soooooooo happy being a smaller size, and looking great, being sexy, etc., that I am adjusting to this new normal.
I also miss actually cooking full meals, and not using my spices and marinades, etc. But again, it's a new normal, and doing all that food was how I mostly got fat. So...
I sometimes wish I could pig out "just for two meals" but, of course, that's impossible. So... All is well.

I'm glad to know I'm not the only one, Blondiecakes. I took the nutrition classes as well and like you said, it was a joke. The one that I saw didn't prepare me at all. She just showed me a plate and said I'd need to eat x much meat, x much veg and went on about Protein shakes. I've never been one for cooking and even before surgery I had trouble planning nutritious/balanced meals (thus one of the reasons I needed the surgery). Removing most of my stomach didn't change that. It would have been a lot more helpful if they had given us recipes or really good eating plans for AFTER the liquid and soft foods phase. I need to know how to eat for life - not for the first month or two. Everything I've seen just says don't eat bread/pasta/rice and eat a lot of Protein. Not incredibly helpful.
I went for a walk yesterday morning. Ended up going 3/4 of a mile in about 20 minutes and didn't feel tired at all. Before surgery, I couldn't have made it 10 feet without extreme lower back pain (due to my huge stomach) and without panting and not being able to catch my breath. So the surgery HAS helped there, but being so tired because I can't seem to eat right makes me not want to move at all, much less exercise the way I should, which I know is affecting my weight loss - or lack thereof.
I've heard some say that if you aren't getting enough nutrients you'll gain weight, so that might be your issue, Blondie. I don't know how you do it though. It's just me and my husband. I can't imagine feeling like this and trying to take care of an energetic child. My hat is off to you!

Melodica - I'm sorry that you are having such a hard time. I'm glad that you feel comfortable enough to share your true feelings on this forum. First of all, I think you need to cut yourself some slack. You have had some normative life transitions (i.e.: moving, leaving your friends and support system) that you have had to deal with in addition to recovering from surgery. It's going to take some time to settle in.
I agree, most bariatric programs don't do enough to prepare patients for the lifestyle changes being required of them post-surgery. I'm lucky that my program at Kaiser required me to attend a lot of classes pre-surgery and closely monitors us all post-surgery for at least the next three years. Regardless, I did a lot if excess research on my own. Investing in books and read people's online blogs about their surgery experience. I do feel I knew what I was getting into with this surgery. I had my eyes wide open and that's probably why I'm able to stay positive even when I'm having a bad day. Here's the thing, weight loss surgery isn't a cure- all. If you had depression before surgery, you will struggle with it post surgery. If you were an emotional eater pre-surgery, chances are you're still going to look for comfort through food post surgery. We are creatures of habit. It's normal to go back to old ways of coping. Pre-surgery I didn't plan meals and often ate on the go. Guess what? I still struggle with planning and slip into old patterns of behavior. I want to change though because doing the same thing over and her again expecting different results is the definition of insanity. I didn't like the person being reflected back to me in the mirror. My outside didn't accurately reflect back the smart, confident person I am in so many other areas of my life. I was ready for a change. This motivates me when I'm struggling. I also realize I'm human. I frequently cheat AND I've consistently lost weight every week, so I've learned that this surgery doesn't require us to be "perfect." Regarding food, there are plenty of websites online to help you navigate different things to eat. As someone has already mentioned in this thread, www.theworldaccordingtoeggface.blogspot.com is a good one that has tons of recipes to prepare ahead of time and store in the freezer. The old me ate mostly processed, fast food. I live a busy life running my own business and raising two kids. I struggle daily with not continuing old patterns of behavior that led me to be fat and unhealthy. Is it easy to make lifestyle changes? No. But I know if I continue down the path I was on, I will suffer medical complications from being obese that are far worse than the minor inconveniences I'm struggling with post-surgery. Specific books I have found helpful are "the big book on the gastric sleeve" by the BP founder, Alex Brecher. Another one recommended by the Psyc. Who did my evaluation is "the emotional first aid kit". Asking for help is a sign of strength, not weakness. Would you consider talking to a therapist who specializes in weight loss surgery?

Ladies I want to say this to all of you please please keep on moving!! Literally when you have awful negative thoughts I want you to go for a walk breathe and know that you will look back at this second month and realize you were just going through the transformative phase! I too have had these negative thoughts but honies nothing feels as good as sitting in a booth and not thinking omg are my boobs going to hit the table or breathing hard going up 4 steps! Yes you are limited to food you had your stomach cut off but this is the time you need to train your mind what your body is forcing you to do food is fuel and you need to change the mental warfare that is going on in those pretty heads of yours!
Therapy and speaking to your docs are key if you can't get out of the funk or are throwing up --- please go speak to people who can help if you need it. Sometimes we all need hints or a checkin because you never know there could me issues and you are the best ones to tell the docs something is wrong! Hang in there and know that in month 4 you will not feel this way I just know it!!! Xo

Oh my gosh, it drives me NUTS sometimes!
I saw this person who wrote, "My sleeve makes me stop eating, but my head is screaming at me to keep eating" or something like that. When you have food issues, this surgery basically forces us to stare down those issues. It's hard! That's why I am a huge proponent of ongoing counseling/therapy for people with food addiction/abuse/issues.
Talk therapy has really helped me feel less "crazy" and "trapped in my own head". Many people who are/were overweight use food for reasons other than energy and to fuel our bodies. Figuring out what my reasons are is a big part of the recovery process for me.

Butterflypinup, I cant even lie I read your post yesterday and I started to reply but I couldnt figure out what to say to you. I feel for you, we all went thru our own obstacles with this surgery but I have to be honest with you...how is it possible that you vomit everyday? Have you told your Dr, cause this cant be normal. Its been almost 2 months since surgery and nausea and vomit shouldnt even be in the picture anymore. I have you in my prayers and I hope you start to feel better and be able to eat more solids. I hope you are seeing your Dr soon for another follow up. Please keep us posted. I know its hard to see it now but there is a light at the end of the tunnel for you.

I drank diet soda and super sweet southern tea like an alcoholic drinks liquor. I had one or four with every meal. I felt like I couldn't function in the morning until I got that first sip of ice cold diet cherry coke! I felt like my food couldn't digest without it. I was really worried about it before my surgery. I'm 7 weeks post op and I only drink unsweet tea with splenda. I NEVER could do that before the surgery. I'm down 48 pounds and just returned to work this week and everyone is noticing! I've worked so hard at the gym and followed everything to a T. So the more I lose the less I miss!
I don't miss overeating every meal until I threw up or felt my food sitting all the way up to my throat. I don't miss the GUILT that came with every binge meal. I don't miss dodging people that haven't seen me since I gained so much weight because I knew they were going to think, "Wow! She blew up!" I don't miss taking vacation days to get out of team builders at work when they were going to do yoga or zumba because I was too embarrassed to be that big and jiggling around in front of my coworkers. I could go on and on......

I drank diet soda and super sweet southern tea like an alcoholic drinks liquor. I had one or four with every meal. I felt like I couldn't function in the morning until I got that first sip of ice cold diet cherry coke! I felt like my food couldn't digest without it. I was really worried about it before my surgery. I'm 7 weeks post op and I only drink unsweet tea with splenda. I NEVER could do that before the surgery. I'm down 48 pounds and just returned to work this week and everyone is noticing! I've worked so hard at the gym and followed everything to a T. So the more I lose the less I miss!
I don't miss overeating every meal until I threw up or felt my food sitting all the way up to my throat. I don't miss the GUILT that came with every binge meal. I don't miss dodging people that haven't seen me since I gained so much weight because I knew they were going to think, "Wow! She blew up!" I don't miss taking vacation days to get out of team builders at work when they were going to do yoga or zumba because I was too embarrassed to be that big and jiggling around in front of my coworkers. I could go on and on......

I drank diet soda and super sweet southern tea like an alcoholic drinks liquor. I had one or four with every meal. I felt like I couldn't function in the morning until I got that first sip of ice cold diet cherry coke! I felt like my food couldn't digest without it. I was really worried about it before my surgery. I'm 7 weeks post op and I only drink unsweet tea with splenda. I NEVER could do that before the surgery. I'm down 48 pounds and just returned to work this week and everyone is noticing! I've worked so hard at the gym and followed everything to a T. So the more I lose the less I miss!
I don't miss overeating every meal until I threw up or felt my food sitting all the way up to my throat. I don't miss the GUILT that came with every binge meal. I don't miss dodging people that haven't seen me since I gained so much weight because I knew they were going to think, "Wow! She blew up!" I don't miss taking vacation days to get out of team builders at work when they were going to do yoga or zumba because I was too embarrassed to be that big and jiggling around in front of my coworkers. I could go on and on......

Funny, I thought I was the only one looking at food on Pinterest! I would look up bariatric recipes for my next phase and save them. I watched all the cooking shows. I even baked Cookies several times in my first two weeks for my family. Even though I couldn't eat them I loved the smell and how they bade my family happy to eat them. So weird! But it will get better. Once you are able to get some variety in your diet, you will realize that you aren't even eating any of these things you have been craving. I was on clear liquid diet for two weeks then full liquids for two weeks. When I got to the 13th day, I had a melt down. I was so sick of broth and sf popsicles! I actually sat there and cried...but once I was able to add something new, I felt much better. Hang in there!