Elizabeth21

I am glad you are going to see your doctor. Remember you are the customer! He should provide treatment and/or medication to assist you. Keep in mind that your stomach remains swollen for a while as your are healing after surgery. So, your stomach will seem to "enlarge" as you heal naturally. At seven weeks, it is still early in the process. I remember feeling impatient that I was not feeling better at two months. I know it feels like an eternity. It is going to get better. At almost five months and 84 pounds lighter, I am very glad I made this choice.
Good luck!

Emerald Roast packages nut Snacks in 100 calorie count bags. They are a great go-to choice that you can throw in a desk drawer and/or purse to have on hand. I really like there Cocoa Almonds cause it gives just a little chocolate kick too. Also love the Quest bars.

Emerald Roast packages nut Snacks in 100 calorie count bags. They are a great go-to choice that you can throw in a desk drawer and/or purse to have on hand. I really like there Cocoa Almonds cause it gives just a little chocolate kick too. Also love the Quest bars.

I think the best thing you can do for yourself is go and chat with either your surgeon, or surgical team. I don't believe the tummy will shrink, or the esophagus, but I could be wrong.
What I think is right, though, is everyone progresses at their own rate, and comparing doesn't change that. Are you on solid foods yet? If so, maybe go back a little to soft foods. You may not be ready for solids, yet. Purees may be right for you for awhile. Check with your dietician. Good luck to you!

If Omeprazole isn't very effective for you, try another new time released PPI called Dexilant.

I am glad you are going to see your doctor. Remember you are the customer! He should provide treatment and/or medication to assist you. Keep in mind that your stomach remains swollen for a while as your are healing after surgery. So, your stomach will seem to "enlarge" as you heal naturally. At seven weeks, it is still early in the process. I remember feeling impatient that I was not feeling better at two months. I know it feels like an eternity. It is going to get better. At almost five months and 84 pounds lighter, I am very glad I made this choice.
Good luck!

My arms are huge and baggy but I'm rocking the tank tops anyways!

I never had a "fixed" goal weight. My goal was to lose enough weight to feel like I blended into the crowd. I was incredibly tired of being the fattest person in every setting - at work, on the plane, in the movie theater, in social settings. So my goal weight changed as I saw my body change. I wouldn't mind being 250lbs... if I were 8% body fat and the weight was from muscle!

Great post. It's good to focus on the reasons we all had this surgery and not let the scale dictate our successes. It's is hard to not fixate on the numbers.
I try to keep in mind that I am successful because I have met all my pre op goals. I am fit, healthy, and live a much more adventurous active lifestyle. Yes, I set my goal weight to 140 and right now my body seems to be really happy at 152. Even if I never lose those last pounds, I have succeeded. Like you, I plan and count my food intake, but also don't freak out if I have an occasional treat. I even baked homemade sugar Cookies last night just for myself!! I ate what I wanted and sent the rest with my husband to work.
You have inspired me to write down new goals. Mine will all be fitness based. I love feeling my body get stronger and tough. I will continue to weigh to stay on track, but those last twelve pounds can either stay or go I will not give them the power to determine my happiness!!

I am glad you are going to see your doctor. Remember you are the customer! He should provide treatment and/or medication to assist you. Keep in mind that your stomach remains swollen for a while as your are healing after surgery. So, your stomach will seem to "enlarge" as you heal naturally. At seven weeks, it is still early in the process. I remember feeling impatient that I was not feeling better at two months. I know it feels like an eternity. It is going to get better. At almost five months and 84 pounds lighter, I am very glad I made this choice.
Good luck!

CHEW CHEW CHEW!!!!! They say it for a reason...it breaks down the food to a more manageable size for your new tummy, it forces you to slow down your eating, allowing the tummy to take what it can in, at it's own pace. Remember NOT to drink, my dietician says for 30 minutes BEFORE and for another 30 minutes AFTER eating. NO LIQUIDS! Slow and easy, that's the ticket!

Emerald Roast packages nut Snacks in 100 calorie count bags. They are a great go-to choice that you can throw in a desk drawer and/or purse to have on hand. I really like there Cocoa Almonds cause it gives just a little chocolate kick too. Also love the Quest bars.

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I think switching to a Fluid diet usually results in this kind of digestive disruption. Ask your doctor/NUT for suggestions. I'm sure this has happened with many patients.
Good luck!

@@SimplySharon
The point is that you should have already been made aware that you might die during surgery. If anyone is going into this without understanding that there is risk for surgery then please realize that you have not researched this enough. No surgery is 100% safe. However, you need to do some soul searching to find out if the risk is worth it or not. Many people who chicken out of having the surgery will go on to die of an obesity-related illness. For example, I knew a woman in the early 2000s who canceled her gastric bypass within days of doing it. She lived for 2 more years and died of a heart attack brought on by the fact that she was morbidly obese, weighing over 400 lbs. So don't think that you are safe by canceling your surgery. You just need to be aware that there is a risk of death and a risk for complications. If you feel the benefits outweigh the risk then go ahead and do it. The majority of people do fine with gastric sleeve. This board is filled with people who have had the surgery and are pleased with the results. Speak to your doctor if you have any more concerns.

I don't know the rules in Mexico but for sure in the states a doctor can not discuss details of any other patient with another person, especially without a signed release. This includes cause of death those details your would need to obtain from the patient's family.

People seem to forget that death is always a risk with surgery. Patients who have comorbidities, such as diabetes, high blood pressure, heart problems, lung problems, etc., are at a greater risk than those who do not have such issues. The risk of death is small for a relatively healthy person. However, every patient needs to be aware of the risks before going into this.

We all have our own reasons for having weight loss surgery. For some of us, it's so that we can stop the progress of diabetes, heart disease and other obesity related illnesses. For others, it's because we are starting to feel pain in our knees, our backs, our feet. And of course, many of us want to look great in skinny jeans, in a bathing suit, a summer dress. (There is NO SHAME in the vanity aspect of WLS, who doesn't love an admiring glance, a great compliment, a quick head turn?)
Personally, I had WLS for all of the reasons above. Not only did I want to extend my life span, but I wanted to improve the quality of my life for myself and my family and I wanted to look and feel great for these prime years of my life. I really had no way of picking out a weight goal as I had been obese for decades and after two children and a few dozen years, I had no idea what 160, 150, 140 would look like any more. I chose to make my goal very Fluid, one of those "I'll know it when I get there" ideas, more focused on pants size than an actual weight.

The day of surgery, I did pick the number 159, which is still "overweight" according to the BMI scale, but that was a number that seemed so lofty and it was a number my doctor was thrilled with. When I hit that goal 9 or so months later, I decided that I'd really like to see 149 (WHAT!?!? UNDER 150!?!?!?!), a number that still alludes me to this day.
I often get messages from people asking me if I am unhappy that I've not reached that number and the answer is HELL NO. What I really imagined for myself was to be in pant sizes that were in the single digits, to be able to do a 5k with my kids, to eliminate all traces of pre-diabetes, to be able to shop in any store I chose. I've done all that and I've maintained it now for over a year. No only that, but I've maintained it without a whole lot of concerted effort -- something that amazes me every day.
I KNOW I could hit 149 -- my stretch goal -- if I worked at it. In fact, I think I could hit 139 and one day I might feel the need to, but I doubt it. I did not have WLS to live the rest of my life fully focused on every morsel that enters my mouth, counting, weighing, measuring obsessively. I still track, I still plan, I still log and measure much of the time, but I choose not to center every meal around my food log like I used to.
Why am I even bringing this up? Because I see some people here and elsewhere who I am scared for. I see a few members who are dipping dangerously close to the underweight end of the BMI scale. I see some people on other boards who are beating themselves up because their size 2s are tight. These people are oozing panic and anxiety over every gram of carb eaten and over every ounce of movement on the scale. Clearly they have traded one eating disorder for another and I fear for them. I also see people on the other end of the spectrum who think that because they've had this surgery, they are free to eat whatever they desire because their restriction will keep them in check and they are shocked when 6 months later they are up 30, 40, 50 pounds.

If you are just starting this journey or are midway through your weight loss, I'd love for you to write down your goals -- what's really important to you about this whole process. Revisit those thoughts as you get close to goal and write down what you feel really good about and where you feel you might be struggling. Use those thoughts to guide you when you feel your thoughts are going haywire and you might need a reality check. And seriously, do NOT listen to your friends, neighbors, family when they tell you that you are too fat, too thin (at 200 pounds, you are NOT too thin), need to lose more, gain some back, etc. Go to your doctor for that.

Keep your perspective in check. This whole process is a real mind fruck ( ) if you allow it to be.

Make sure you are eating slowly. You over eat most often when you eat quickly.

Also, shrimp and/or broccoli may not settle as well early on. I have found that even with similar volumes of food the type of thing I eat can make a big difference. Also the timing of what I eat can matter. Remember you can learn from each experience!
Good luck!

@@jjflamingoVSG I am just starting purees, so I've been on Clear liquids this whole time. Applesauce is wonderful. I don't have my follow up visit till Thursday, so I can't be released to go back to work before then. He and I already discussed the amount of time I intend to take, and he was fine with it. Taking the extra time is time for me to get adjusted to this new lifestyle, know what to pack for a lunch, get out and buy a new tiny lunch bag, and get some clothes that fit. I can't believe how much I have lost already! But my staples have to come out, and I need some time for me. I've been on the treadmill daily, trying to remain active.

Big Opie--
There is no shame admitting that you have low self-esteem. As such, it may feel easier to focus on the scary, dare I say, superficial aspects of weight-loss. But as someone who had high blood pressure, high cholesterol and difficult-to-control Diabetes, (I have Type I--autoimmune diabetes. Mine can't be cured) I urge you put the physical appearance aspects aside for a minute. Your body is sending you strong signals that it is breaking down and will continue to break down at your current weight. Your very life is in jeopardy.
Since my surgery my cholesterol is normal, my blood pressure is normal, my insulin levels have decreased drastically, I have no more sleep apnea, no more A-fib... the list goes on. And in terms of vanity, I love being a size 8-10. I don't care if my belly will always be flabby. You can't see the flab under my clothes, bathing suits, or lingerie.
This is the best decision I have ever made and I hope you make it too!

@@Pac-woman
Positive feedback is great, but giving pie in the sky advice that may not necessarily be the case for everyone can be a slippery slope...that's all I'm saying.

Well, if I'm the one that scared @@Pac-woman, then I don't think there was any keeping her here. I think I have a reputation as one of the more positive, nice, and helpful people on these forums. So if *I'M* too harsh for her, then this probably isn't the right place for her to be and express herself. I'm sorry if she felt like she was being attacked. I think it is awesome to give people encouragement and a positive outlook. I try to do that every day myself! But I don't want to lie or misrepresent anything either. Everyone who goes through this journey needs to have real and reasonable expectations. Promising someone they will never have loose skin or that any aspect of this process is going to be 100% sun and roses is just setting them up for potential disappointment.

I was 29 when I had my sleeve surgery and I didn't really think about saggy skin all that much initially. Your comment that you're too fat to do anything reminds of things I used to say to myself. I yo-yo dieted so I would go down to about 138, then up to 200, down to 140, up to 210, until the last time I was down at 137 and then went up to 237, which is when I decided on the sleeve. I was too fat to be seen in public and if in hindsight if I had known how my saggy skin would look, I still would have lost the weight. You can hide saggy skin, but you can't hide fat. Also, a few hours in the OR with a good plastic surgeon, and most of the flab can be fixed. Then you can be healthy and hot, but if you aren't willing to lose weight because you might be saggy, that's like saying you aren't going to swim to shore off of a sinking ship because you might get wet. Yes, you're going to have some sag...but if in the end you are exponentially better off than now which seems like a fair trade to me.
On another note, from a medical perspective I would encourage you to reconsider the medications, at least the hypertension one. If you are borderline diabetic, it seems quite a few people have had this problem resolved with the sleeve procedure and weight loss. Cholesterol can be resolved ideally by changing the way you eat, although it can also be genetic in that no matter how you eat you will still have high cholesterol which will hurt you in the long run. I had hypertension when I was fat and figured losing weight would fix it so I didn't take the drugs. I am now 128 and this month I finally went on beta blockers because being thin and in shape did not change the fact that my bp continues to be through the roof. Of all of those issues, I would take the hypertension medications and carefully monitor your diet for at least 6 weeks before having a fasting glucose and cholesterol test done again. I ate a big meal the night before a cholesterol test once and I went from my usual very low number to ridiculously high, so there are things that can skew that result. As someone who has hypertension, I was mad that I had to take drugs, but I feel SO much better now that my bp is managed. If you end up losing weight, you can always stop the drugs, but the damage you are doing now, especially with a high bp isn't something that is worth dealing with purely because you don't want to be on fat people medications.