pumpkin07

I think also you might be testing your sleeve...testing its limits. But I believe the physical side effect of throwing up and just the sheer uncomfortableness of overeating might help teach you this is not a good idea. Before when you would overeat the consequence immediately was comfort and feeling good. Now it isn't so good...right? You might have operated in a compulsive passion in the past where following a period of dieting (i.e. losing 90 lbs) you began to eat compulsively. So your natural reaction is to try to go back to your old ways and that is what you are attempting. That is so common among us. So perhaps you were trying to begin that cycle of overeating...but your sleeve will not allow you to eat compulsively. If it were me I would try not to panic. Just try to get back on track with 64 oz Water, Proteins first, then vegetables, then carbs. And if you are walking then that is good. Your weight loss is phenomenal. Please don't beat yourself up over a 4 lb gain. Be patient with yourself and trust your sleeve. I had my surgery in Feb too and I've missed all my old foods too. I've had periods where I was very hungry and I ate all wrong. I have had huge stalls where I go up or down a few lbs - in fact this is the third month that there is only one week of the month that my body will shed lbs. Usually only 6 lbs a month now. But I believe in the learning process of this sleeve, even for us hard heads. Just relax and try not to panic. For the first time in your life, it is nearly impossible to be the eater you once were. Do the basics right - drink your fluids, take your Vitamins, and eat your Protein first. If you do those things right and spend a lot of time exploring your emotions through therapy or whatever...you are going to be just fine. You will get through this and you will have the life you want. You are gonna be fine. You are not going to gain your weight back. In fact, you will lose again. You are stalling...trust your sleeve and your body. And I believe your head will follow. For me the head was the last part to comply.

I think it is important to be honest about how we feel. I think of the problem as an appetite control problem that is remedied by caloric restriction/i.e. small stomach. Appetite control issues are complicated and often caused by lifestyle/emotional issues but also I feel eventually become driven by PHYSICAL/hormonal/metabolic abnormalities. Sometimes a problem starts for one reason, but ends of continuing because of other reasons. Like someone does cocaine b/c they have pain in their life or a bad example is set for them. Later though, the physical body changes to the point that it drives the addiction. I think this is true for food. So who would fault a cocaine addict for finding any way possible to stop using cocaine which is ruining their life? I think you should hopefully, eventually feel extremely proud of yourself. Everybody has problems. The strong are those that find a way to solve their problem so it doesn't ruin their life. Anytime someone does not HAVE the same problem as another, it is easy to judge. But to me, I'm just proud that I found a way to solve the appetite control issues b/c it was hurting my emotional and physical well being. I just also have hope that it was the right decision long term and that I made a good decision.

Yeah...mine are going down too!!!! No doubt though that as I got bigger they got bigger, so how could I expect them not to go back down? I'm a full C now. Actually I wasn't thrilled with heavy watermelons so to me it is a relief. I figure worst case I'll need a lift. My friend just got a lift reduction and she said she is HIGH AND TIGHT. Sounds good.

I think getting the sleeve is a HUGE decision because it does permanently affect your body, your temple, your health. But also I believe it is such a personal decision. I remember realizing one day that I'd been fat for 20 years. And I vowed the make the next 20 years or more different. I was a fat kid, then a fat adult. It sucks. I had one person not agree with my decision and it was a co-worker. We just don't discuss it much.

I drank a lot of Kool Aid. I bought the little packets and mixed a little over half of it with 20 oz of Water and sipped all day. It is a little sugar, but I needed it. I still sip on Kool Aid. Also genuine homemade chicken broth sip sip. The reason I'm telling you these 2 things is this is what I did consistently, these 2 things, and I didn't have any problems with thirst. Sometimes i also had hot tea with agave sweetener. I think the artificial sweeteners really choked me in this way but especially early on. I still can't drink splenda in my iced tea. The particals will hit my throat and choke me. Its weird. I can do equal a little or the pink stuff. I can't do juice. I'm starting to like ice water better now, but generally need a little flavored water of some kind. Best wishes. Best wishes to you

My dear mother, who has a knack for saying these things stared at me the other day and said "Good GOD, are you going BALD??????" RIght at the dinner table with family. I turned 5 shades of red I'm sure. I had been losing some hair...hoping no one noticed you know....hadn't really prepared anyone for this reality b/c I was hoping it would not be a problem. But I'm not bald anyway, so why couldn't she think of a nicer thing to say. But I tell you I have lost a lot of hair in the last month. I am thankful it is not on the tip top but all over. It seems to be slowing down, or I am perhaps thinking wishfully. But it is not getting worse. I noticed today my pony tail is really little. I wasn't mad...but I could've done without that comment.

I am in Tomball, TX. Sleeved February 9th. I didn't see this thread until now.

Well you are darn right that is discouraging. But I imagine you had already lost a lot of weight with the band, no? Wondering what size boughie your doctor used and how much food you can get down. But I'm also thinking you are taking the steps to pump it up. You may need to go see a nutritionist and truly go on a diet/exercise plan to lose that last 20 lbs. I am half way through my weight loss and the lbs are much harder won now. I think for many of us we'll have to fight our bodies to get to the finish line. You are actually almost there! If you get there in a year the sleeve still would have done a good job. Hang in there!

You have done SUCH a great job!!! I am really really happy for you. It must be easier to chase those kids around now. I've lost (almost) 50 lbs and I was imagining it as big huge sack of flour that I couldn't even carry, and yet... I did....for years and years and years. For you it was like about 1.4 sacks of flour you have lost now, Is that not amazing?

Thank you for posting that Jane. I believe the trend is moving towards the 40 boughie. I got a 34 and it is okay too, but I think sometimes things can be too extreme. I didn't know until after my surgery that my surgeon posts he removes 90% of your stomach. Had I known that I would have questioned that and gotten a second opinion. I've since read 85%, etc. Restriction is great, but I do now worry a little about becoming underweight or having to really focus on getting enough food IN. Ironic, isn't it. PCindy - kudos to you for getting a second opinion. I do know 3 weeks of surgery would leave me weak and dehydrated before surgery. Your surgeon sounds like a control freak. I don't see the point of that at all. I think the sensible thing is 2 liquid meals and an Adkins type Protein meal. That way you are not so insane, and it accomplishes the same thing. If I were you, and I'm not, but I would just modify it and then a couple days before surgery switch to all liquids. He'll never know. You'll still lose weight.

I didn't have that lingering feeling, but I would imagine a hot liquid might do the trick. Try sipping on some hot hot tea and little by little it makes sense that it would move on down. Or coffee if you are at the point you can have coffee.

Well, this happened to my friend also. But it turned out it was more of an insurance issue b/c he knew her insurance would not cover the sleeve. She loves her doctor and went with his opinion and so far is doing great. Her friend had the bypass and she is also doing great, although lost a little more than she would like to have. She is a size 2. I have a relative that had the bypass 6 years ago and she can no longer absorb Iron so there is a concern of bleed out. She is looking at having hers reversed. If you read on line there are plenty of celebs looking at having their bypass reversed. For me I wanted caloric restriction just by food volume, not by malabsorbtion. I would never have had the bypass b/c I have a very long life to live and didn't want to be dependent upon more and more surgeries to modify and so forth. The sleeve appeared to be a one stop shop in comparison to the bypass and the band. Also, the stomach pouch made during the bypass is made from the stretchy part of the stomach, right. The sleeve is made from the tougher muscle that does not stretch easily. So that makes some common sense. I know there are still doctors that prefer the bypass, I'm just not sure for the patients it is the best bang for the buck. It would be very sad to lose all the weight to turn around and have to have another surgery.......I think the sleeve is the safer bet. I didn't know about the mortality rates after surgery being different. But I think long term that might be true as well. I would get a second opinion and maybe this is a clue this is not the right doctor. How many sleeves has your doctor done? My doctor had only done like 23. OMG I didn't know at the time that was a problem, but believe me, now I know. They say to get a doctor that has done a lot so you are not his guinea pig. But my surgery did go just fine.

Okay, sounds good. I didn't take much pain killer at the point you are at either. But if you can't get liquids down at all, yeah, you gotta go back before you get worse. Just try to sip your way through it. Warm liquids may work better, I drank a lot of decaf hot tea. I just drank it 'warm'. Also some like warm jello. Real chicken broth worked very very well for me and it is very natural.

Go buy a scale. Digital is great.

Call the hospital. Be demanding. THey'll get your doctor or one that can help.

They brought me sprite with a straw in the hospital and I was like ???? I didn't drink it. But I don't have a problem with straws.

I became a nut freak, but now I'm moving off that it seems. I guess you do just crave what you need. Every day is so different. And there are different phases. I also like Beef Jerky, the Teriyaki. WalMart has a lil bag for $1.97 that has 21 grams of Protein. I like that it is pre portioned. I had nachos at a lil junk food place a while back. It is a carnivally type food place. I had been craving nachos with jalapenos for weeks - it was so good and I haven't wanted them since then..... You just gotta go with what you crave - listen to your body. You can't eat much of it anyway. The foods that taste best/different/better since surgery are definitely black Beans, fresh tomato - the taste seems so vibrant now. But I couldn't eat a cooked green bean if you paid me - just no appeal. Things change.

I boiled chickens with onion and celery and salt. I de-boned the chicken and saved it and just drank the broth. You can cook down the bones even more for a heartier broth. It had tons of Protein. Seems like I still choked down a couple bullets a day when I had to. I absolutely, after a couple weeks of surgery, could not handle the shakes and this got me through.

As for the boughie size, I think a 32 may prove over time to be a tad small. You could change doctors. My doctor would only do a 32 or 34, so I insisted on the 34. But some people get a 40 and are very happy with it. I think that makes some sense b/c you might have an easier time getting food to go down. Maybe do some research - I found varying opinions, but in the end I decided to trust my doctor. I have a 34, and I wish I could eat a bit more than I can. But you'll find people with every opinion. If I could have chosen, I would have chosen maybe a 38 or 40.

I think you have gotten some good advice here. I was the real whiner who cried for a week and a half after surgery mourning my food/friend. Then I adjusted. We are all going to adjust differently. The 2 week liquid diet is a good mental preparation for you - I did cheat a few times myself but tried to only cheat with good Protein like boiled chicken or a great beef patty. But I think if you have made no adjustments beforehand for some people afterwards could be a big shock. I think equally important is to go into surgery very hydrated and not dehydrated. I think I might have been a bit dehydrated and I had problems with my IV/veins b/c of this. It is a personal decision. Everyone makes this decision for different reasons, and I think you need to look HARD at WHY you are doing this. Are you doing it for you, or for your husband's happiness/satisfaction. Because I could only do it for me, and if he likes it that is a bonus. B/c this sleeve is actually now a more permanent part of me than any outside person in my life - I may lose a husband but I can't get my tummy out of the trash. I love my husband, but I've learned in life that health decisions are personal decisions only. I made my decision when I was ready for reasons that made complete sense to me. If you are not there yet, don't do it. For me I knew I need to live a life with more caloric restriction to be healthy/lean and I KNEW I could not do this on my own. I have a low metabolism b/c I have no thyroid that works and don't love to exercise - this sleeve was something I could do that would help me eat less and it has accomplished that. I believe if you eat less you do live longer, and ultimately that was my goal. There were also other health reasons like lipids that were creeping out of range, a sleep apnea problem developing. I knew if I did nothing these problems would only get worse. Maybe you need to spend a day really contemplating by yourself and not listen to what all is said by everyone - but to yourself/your own intuition. Because in reality you will have to live with the outcome of this surgery and not anyone else. I am satisfied with what I can eat. The best description I can tell you is what someone told me - you can eat the same as you always did if that is what you decide to do, but you will eat less. I can eat a salad if I want it which is something I missed for a while. Nothing changes a TON except that you cannot eat as much and you can't gulp drinks especially while you are eating or you will fill your tummy with fluids instead of food. I also cannot eat and then go lay down I need a couple hours to pass or it might try to come back up on me.

I think how much you lose totally depends on how much you have to lose. I had lost 27 lbs at 6 weeks I remember, 36 lbs at 8 weeks...and then it has taken me 2 more months to lose 12 more lbs. I didn't lose at the rate your doctor said. PLus, you are exercising so probably gaining muscle which weighs more than fat. Trust your body and be patient. My understanding is that your body will at certain points pull back and not allow weight loss. For me before my period, like a week or two before I lose quite a few lbs and then after my period - when I think I would weigh less - I just stay stable until a week or two before more next period. I've done this for 2 mos straight and it seems like this month is my pattern and I now look forward to losing 5-6 lbs a month. I'm no longer in a huge rush b/c I want a slow steady loss now down to goal. I don't care if it takes me a year. Just ENJOY!!! Hang in there and try not to compare. The hunger may dissipate in time, I know mine has a lot. I didn't feel any overwhelming hunger changes for a long time, but I can say at 4 mos. and I still like food, but not overwhelmingly starving at all. I was the first couple weeks after surgery - I freaked out. But everyone is a little bit different I suppose. I still get hungry, I just eat differently. I really don't want sweets or if I do it is SUCH a small amount that satisfies me. What I want to eat changes but is generally healthy and lean stuff. I have an aversion to cooked veggies for the most part, but love salads, hearty fishes like salmon, chicken, beef sometimes. A little starch occasionally. A little bread and tiny bit of Pasta occasionally. Black Beans, which I loved before. Occasional eggs. Not really cakey stuff anymore. I would say I'm satisfied at 4 mos with what I can eat. I've adapted. You will too....just wait and see. And enjoy your 27 lb weight loss in 5 weeks. It is phenomenal. I remember this...if I didn't have this surgery I would likely weigh at least x lbs more than I do right now. It is so cool to have weight loss like this, which I've never experienced prior to this. Normal sizes...how cool is that!!! You'll get more comfortable in time with the surgery and its results. Keep exercising!!! I haven't done that honestly.

That is such a cool story. God is good.

I've got hair thinning. I'm not happy. What do I do?

AND if your current insurance also doesn't cover WLS complications, how about considering changing jobs to get better insurance? My insurance, United Healthcare (Texas) through my husband's employer, did not cover WLS OR WLS complications. I decided to use a local doctor and self pay b/c I would not consider going out of the country b/c what if I had complications and needed my doctor? To me I decided to spend the extra funds to stay in my home town. SO I self paid $14,500. My experience was no major complications thank GOD. BUT what if you self pay (went out of country) and after being home a while began to have complications, which of course your/my insurance does not cover. Do you know how much this bill could add up to be - $300,000 or more???? YES, if you are seriously ill. And if you went out of country, you don't even have a doctor here ready to help you...so you have to start from square one. So the point is, why not just wait until you might change jobs and get better insurance? My husband actually changed jobs anyway recently, 4 mos after my surgery, and I realize now I should have just waited so I thought I would share. We all think about should I self pay here or there (which I would recommend looking for a super experienced doctor in your area as opposed to traveling to a doctor that will not come home with you). But WHAT IF you have serious complications...how will you pay for it if your insurance does not cover WLS complications? Just something to consider. I think I'm fairly savvy, but I just didn't really think through what if I have complications and insurance will not cover it? I thought it would be a risk of less than 50,000. But I have since learned that was a very naive number. It depends how many surgeries you need, how much time in the hospital, etc. It could be half a million dollars... If you are in the situation I was in, it is like not having insurance when you need it the most, when you are most at risk. So just give it some thought. Not covering the complications of WLS is sort of worse to me than not covering the surgery. Not to mention it is unfair.

I puke vitamins and it is so disgusting. But the Centrum chewables work for me. But I need to take a calcium - which one is the easiest?