nonnax2

Glad I read these posts. I'm having a hernia repair, surgery on the 8th:(

I'm shed with Dr Bagloo out of Valley and Columbia I'm very happy with her and the staff!

I have to say, I read this thread back when I was still pre-op and it scared the crap out of me and nearly convinced me not to go through with the surgery. Thank God I did. Now 13 months post op I haven't regretted it. Now that I'm pretty much at goal weight, the struggle is real, for sure. I actually just wrote a blog post on this topic yesterday and how the real work really starts when the first year or so is over and you realize that you STILL have to work at it and your weight loss problems didn't solve themselves. But with that being said, while I bounce around between the same 3 or 4 pounds up and down now depending on Water weight, time of month, etc. I've been maintaining with careful watch of what I am eating, sticking to the basics as far as Protein, water, and carbs, and exercising.
So if there are any pre-op peeps reading this and getting scared crapless after reading through it like I was, don't get discouraged! Does the sleeve help you lose a lot of weight quickly, YES! Does it keep it off in the long run? NO. But you do, your choices, and your strategy of using your "tool" - the sleeve - long-term and your daily lifestyle changes.
Just my two-cents.

Definitely have NOT looked back. I am 3 years post-op, and could never ever ever have lost the weight in traditional ways. It changed my life. Read my blog.
Good luck!

All I can tell you is at three months out, I'm still following my plan....exactly. The truth is I'm too scared not to. I feel complications can still occur. I'm also the lowest weight I have been since 1984. I NEVER EVER want to see those numbers again. This tool is my last chance and the only thing that has worked in 30 yrs. That's my motivation to follow the rules. All the best on this not so easy journey.

Hi Congrats! I'm 5 lbs away and that's all I can think about right now , is not to see that 2 anymore...happy for you guys...enjoy shopping!!

Today is my weigh in........I finally hit Onderland today 199.1, not by much I know but still there is a 1 in front of my weight instead of 2. I am so excited and happy. Good luck to all my fellow sleevers! I think I may go shopping today!

I know there's been a number of posts very similar to mine, but I need to vent. I'm almost 5 months post-op, and everyone in my life has been super supportive! It's truly been a blessing. I've lost about 75 lbs. and at first, got plenty of compliments. Now, I'm still about 10 lbs. overweight, and I'm really working hard to lose it. However, people are starting to sip on some serious haterade. I've always been overly sensitive, and secretly it's hurting my feelings. They'll say things like, "You don't plan to lose any more weight, do you?" (and give me a stank eye) or "You don't want to get too skinny." HELLO!! I'm still overweight. What gives, and how can I still keep my motivation and spirits up? Thanks for any advice, or if you just want to make me giggle, that's cool too!!

I would argue the main benefit of wls is setting you up for maintainance. I am nearly 3 years from my surgery and in retrospect it didn't really matter how quickly I got to goal. What matters is that i am still under my goal.

Hi Sharon...I was sleeved on 9/8 and doing pretty well....I'm down 30 lbs which Includes the 2 week pre- op...I'm back to work and having issues with the same incision site... not all the time but it's an awful pulling. Burning..ripping apart sensation..I'm did have a Tummy Tuck about 9 years ago and had a few other stomach surgeries. .but never experienced this discomfort.....I'm seeing my doc this week..I'm to did call office they said it could be scar tissue...hope you feel better soon...

I was on only on liquid for first week then I can only eat eggs low fat Greek yogurt low fat pudding low fat cottage cheese and refried Beans. This is week 2 and 3. Then I can have soft foods week 3 thru 6 and then you start back on solid foods slowley. I three weeks out and have lost 30 pounds yea!!!_!!

I have to eat every 3 hours. Breakfast, snack, lunch, snack, dinner.
That makes my day and that's what my NUT recommended. And cero calories liquids between meals. I always drink Water tho. Not a juice fan.

Three weeks out as of Wed and doing really well. Am eating solid but mushy moist food with no problems of any kind....poached egg and cheese, tuna and mayo and egg, turkey meatball with cooked cottage cheese. Teeny tiny bites! Feeling almost normal! Back to work tomorrow. Last hurdle: want to sleep on my stomach!

The pain and not being able to sleep on your side is normal. I forced myself to gradually tilt to the side over a period of days and it made it easier. Surround yourself with pillows, prop up your belly and put one behind your back. It helps a lot! I also created a bed wedge out of pillows and a blanket over them (think one sided pyramid) so I could sleep reclined in bed. Every day I'd take one pillow out until I was sleeping flat.
As far as the hunger goes, they remove the gland that produces the hunger hormone during surgery, so you won't feel true hunger for a long time. If you do find yourself feeling hungry, the usual culprit is excess stomach acid, so make sure you are taking your acid reducer. If it gets really bad you can take two at a time.
Tip: the longer you stay away from refined sugars and grains the longer your hunger cues will stay away, which is a good thing! Sugars and grains cause blood sugar spikes and drops that can mimic true hunger, causing you to eat more than you should.

OK so I have not been on here so much since surgery. I'm going to be honest. I hate the changes to this app. I liked it better before. It's harder to maneuver through now and find things. Anyways that being said on with the numbers. Surgery date was 8/15/14 weighed 220lbs. Today I'm at 184lbs. 4 lbs from 40lbs lost Yayyyy. Hope all is well with everyone!
 

Everyone on this board has gone through most of what you are going through right now. I was sleeved on Sept. 10. I was also perplexed at the number of hoops that the insurance people make you jump through. My doctor's office made it as easy for me as possible. The faxes went flying from every doctor to every doctor! Somehow I managed. I was at a point where I knew my health required a vertical sleeve. I resolved that I would get all my ducks in a row, so to speak, and if the insurance people did not approve of my surgery, I was going to get the surgery anyway and pay for it myself. I was desperate.
I also had second thoughts! YES! I was lying there one night after all of my approvals came through, with an operation date settled, and suddenly I felt that I was being taken on a rollercoaster ride. I was strapped into my "seat" and felt as if everything was set in motion and ready to go. A bit scarey. But then I thought of my hypertension, my sleep apnea, my cholesterol and my poor old knees (which I never want to replace) and kept focused on regaining my health. I have a closet full of clothes that I want to wear again. I want to be treated like a human being instead of a tub of lard.
My operation went well. I explained to my anesthesiologist that I get nauseated by all anesthesia, and he put some anti-nausea meds into my I.V. Result: No nausea. No gas bubbles. Some pain. Got over that in three or four days. Husband was and remains supportive.
Also: Just to make things a tad more miserable - I broke a tooth a week before surgery. I did not change the date. Surgeon agreed. I was able to withstand the tooth pain (minor) and accompanying headache. I had the tooth removed on the 25th of September. I have been taking pain meds and they caused me an epic experience in Constipation. Drink water!
BUT, it has all been worth it. Stuff happens. Doubts arise. But keep your mind focused on the prize - a new life - a new you. You will become your own hero. Everyone here knows what you are going through. Good luck and hang in there!

Here is a list that my doctor gave me.....
Make sure you have 1/4 & 1/2 cups measuring cups.
16-32 oz Water bottle
measuring spoons (teaspoon & tablespoon)
small utensils & plates/bowls
blender (like the Magic Bullet)
Your doctor's recommended supplements
broth (Safeway has the Organics brand that has chicken, beef & veggie broth)
sugar free Jello
sugar free pudding
Sugar Free Popsicles - They are like my treat every night, but also help sooth your throat, etc.
Crystal Light (or any calorie free, noncarbonated, Decaf liquids)
Apple juice or cranberry juice diluted to 1/2 strength
Fat Free Milk or a Non Dairy
Protein drinks, powders, unflavored Protein powder
lunch Box to pack foods for on the go - I thought this was silly. But, it is actually very necessary for me. I use it almost every day.
Notebook for food journaling to keep track of supplements, liquid intake and Protein intake, etc.
I used icepacks over heating pads. Everyone is different. You just have to see what works for you.
Gas-x has been a saving grace & Gas-x strips that dissolve on your tongue to keep in your purse when you are on the fly.
Good luck with everything!!!!

I am 12 weeks as of two days ago and have lost 72 lbs. Walking is your new best friend. Since losing my weight so far...I can walk the 10,000 steps a day, not everyday but most. Surgery and recovery were the easiest thing ever done in my life. I breezed through. I have the medicine ball that you go home with. No worries there. Had an IV for 2 days and started liquids on day 3 which is the day I went home.

Liquids is my nightmare, just trying to get all 64 ounces in a day. Some days I do really well and then others no so good. Just be aware of always sipping. Take a Water bottle of either Water or Crystal Light or something that's approved as sugar free with you everywhere you go. If you are going to run an errand take something with you. Always be sipping. It will help.

I have 100 lbs to goal and have lost 21.5 inches.

Ginabill - I hope your recovery is doing well.

at 3 wks I stalled...to this day I can only get in less then 700 daily. I use myfitnesspal on everything. get Protein requirement most days the past few days I havnt had appetite so Iv been only getting in 30 to 40 daily.. but I watch sugar an carbs, I dont allow myself over 50 at all...sugars are less then 25 maybe 30 day. I lose daily now. fortunatly I have only had 1 stall an it lasted several wks..then it started dropping again daily. I am 11 wks out an down 60 now..I just faithfully use the MFP...

Today at 11:15 am I went into the OR. I really don't feel that bad other than the gas pain, but they have been pretty regular with the pain meds. I have managed 2 walks already, but I'm going to rest the rest of evening. So glad to be a loser!

I love my sleeve too! So many people that I used to work with/go to school with dont recognize me anymore! And when I show pictures of myself at 400lbs last year people don't believe that I was ever that big! It feels amazing know that the sleeve has changed my life for the better!

So, I was sleeved on July 28 and had great weight loss success even before surgery (about 55 lbs lost yay!) and great loss during the pre- and post-op liquid phases (about 25lbs yay!). I'd read SOOOO much about the post-op stall, but just kept on losin'...finally hit that stall about 3 weeks after surgery and that bad-boy stall stayed with me for almost a month. (Boo!)
Honestly, I wasn't too distressed. Thank you BariatricPal forums for all the information about STALLS. It stank to stop losing, but I stopped looking at the scale (this is KEY folks) for over almost two weeks and I'm now down about 5lbs. I tried to keep in mind how GREAT that I felt and all my nice new SMALLER clothes that looked pretty darn smashing on me. All the COMPLIMENTS at work. I didn't really change a thing in my diet or exercise...exercised the same, ate the same, drank the same. A stall just is what it is.
I've felt so much better overall since I've dropped 90 lbs that I'm delighted already. I even think my sleep apnea is gone. I have a visit with my sleep doctor next week to confirm, so fingers crossed!
So, if you're in a stall...just keep on keeping on with 'the plan'...the stall WILL pass and your weight loss WILL continue. Keep looking back at what you have achieved and consider how much your life has changed already. Embrace your SUCCESS.
I'm getting pretty close to ONEderland and even closer to 100lbs lost. Woohoo!
Hope everyone is also doing well and at peace with themselves. MUAH!

Hi J,
One of the main things for us in the 300lb + range that I would like to say about depression. food, at least for me was one of my greatest joys, and largest coping mechanism. For a long time, while being my worst enemy and trapping me in a prison of my own insecurities, it was also my best friend. Ever present, easy to relate to, and 100 percent in my control. When I decided to have the sleeve, I started mourning the loss of food like it was a relative. I still have days where I think about what I might not have again or what my new normal is but our loss is our greatest gain. In addition to the emotional side of things, your fat that your body is dialing in to burn has vast stores of estrogen, even for you men out there, and it is being released along with the toxins stored there. Some days will go great and others you might be subconsciously mourning your loss but in the end, you are not alone and when that first 100 pounds come off, those feelings will come less and less often. good luck and keep in touch if you need a friend.

When you reach a mini goal or a major goal on your weight loss journey how do you reward yourself?
I decided to reward myself this week. I am excited that I lost over 100 pounds since starting this journey and this week I decided to reward myself with a treadmill. I've been doing fast pace walks around the block all summer long but now that the cold weather is coming I really would like to have a treadmill that I can turn too instead of walks in the cold. I'm excited for it to arrive but even more excited that I lost over 100 pounds!!

This thread is for people who have their surgeries scheduled for the month of September 2014. To discuss successes and failures, surgery issues etc. My date is Monday September 15th, I thought it would be a good idea to have this thread so we could all support each other over the next couple of months..
Cathie