Graciesmom04

This is what I was told by my husband....it's a marathon, not a sprint. You are losing inches at times when it's not pounds. It's going to take time...

It's easy to get frustrated but keep at what you're doing. The wt didn't come on over night, it took time. The same is going to be for the wt loss. It's going to take time to come off. Good luck, you're doing good!!

I was told forever by my husband I could do it on my own. And I have...several times. I'd lost 50lbs, gain back 70. Lose 50 lbs, gain back 80...see my point? This is just a helper. I still work at you and you will too, but this helps you work at it. I didn't tell my family. I told my mom & hubby. No one else. I had sleeve done 1/28/15 and have finally reached my 100lb wt loss goal. I feel amazing. My depression, from being so big, is gone. At this stage, there are foods I just can't tolerate and I'm fine with that. There are a majority that I can...and I get full fast, but that's what helps.

Bowel control issues - I had IBS, so I was having horrible cramps and diarrhea 5 out of 7 days before surgery. Now....I've had maybe 3 episodes the entire summer.

Vomiting - I've had maybe 2 episodes...but they were my fault. Eating too fast and too much. You'll know when to stop.

Weakness? Right after surgery you will be weak, but that goes away relatively quickly.

hair loss - not everyone has it...I did and still do to an extent, although everyone says they don't notice. It goes away.

depression from not eating? At first I did have some..but that quickly goes away. You realize when you start losing the wt that it's all worth it and this is what you worked so hard for. Are there times now that I wished I could just sit and eat a steak with a salad and have a mixed drink and enjoy it? Yes....but I also like this me so much more that the trade off is worth it.

alcohol- I've been scared to have any. I did have about 8 oz of a margarita drink this weekend. It does not take much at all to kick in...one of the reasons I just don't drink. I know others have mentioned they have and done fine. I'm just not a big drinker.

Loose skin? Yes...but most can be covered and not noticed. My biggest is my arms...I look like a flappy chicken. The rest is all covered.

Social life? Hasnt' affected mine at all.

visible scars? Only if you show them your abdomen. I don't wear bikini's (you're all welcome) so I'm good.

prevent you from being a mommy? SHouldn't effect that one bit

Time off work? I had mine done on a Wed morning, was home Thurs and back to work the following Monday. It was tough, I was tired, but very doable....I am in a nonstrenuous job.

Hope this helps. Honestly, it's the best decision I've ever made. I had my doubts and fears beforehand, but I'm so glad I did it.

So, I am ten days out from surgery (08/11) still drinking Water, Protein shakes, broth, and eating SF Jello. I have had an ounce or two of SF pudding the past two days (not today), but it seems to fill me up for hours. Except upon waking up, I always feel fill, sometimes uncomfortably so. I have not weighed myself, and refuse to buy a scale because I know I will become obsessed, but I do feel lighter and the arthritis pain in my knee is gone, for some strange reason. I am "head hungry" quite a bit, and I had my cable turned off yesterday because I just could not stand the constant ads for food (I read a lot anyway and have lots of streaming services on my smart TV, so this isn't really a great sacrifice.)

My question to all of you: some of you are already walking and exercising. Good for you! Yet, how are you doing this? While I do not have real pain (incisions can get itchy) and feel "fine" overall, I have no energy and feel really weak overall. Taking a shower wears me out. I went to have my hair done today, and I could not wait to get back home. I went to the grocery store a couple of days ago, I was exhausted and feared that I would pass out. I know this is probably because I am not getting a lot of calories and am still healing, but I am a bit concerned. Anyone else experiencing something similar?

It took me about a month or more before I could actually do things for an extended period and not just be washed out. The first 10 days is the worst! Don't plan on exercising, walking,etc. Just give yourself time to get back to being you! I can remember about 3 days out of surgery, I finally got up enough strength to take a shower and had to have my hubby come rescue me! It's just all so draining. I think a lot is not just the surgery, but your body is taking in so little, your energy store is just depleted!

I had surgery the day before everyone here: August 11th. I have been drinking Water and Protein shakes. Today I added broth and SF Jello. I have gone between feeling "hungry" and deprived to fulling very full from a couple of baby spoonfuls of Jello or an ounce of broth or Protein shake. I have yet to meet my daily Protein or liquid requirements.

I am glad to find others who have just had the surgery, as I swing from "I can do this!" to "Why did I do this?"

At one of my post op visits, I talked to the Dr about this, cause I was never anywhere close at all. Esp right after surgery. He said it's one day at a time. Those are more like quidelines and not a "must". If you meet them, great. You can strive for that, but it's not a absolute must that you do it. Do what you can and call that good. After hearing that...I felt a lot better about things!

I loved hearing everyone's response to this because this is something I am currently trying to figure out. I haven't told anyone, other than my husband and a friend who as also had WLS, and I'm trying to imagine what I would tell people when my eating habits and body change so drastically.

For those that told a portion of truth, have you ever had anyone come right out and ask, "did you have WLS?"

I feel comfortable flat out lying to nosey strangers and telling part of the truth to everyone else. But if a family member asked me straight up if I had WLS, I'm not sure if I could/would want to lie.

No one has ever asked me. I have 100 ppl a day ask what I'm doing to lose the wt and am I taking a supplement. I just say no, it's all about portions, Protein and exercise. Again....all truth.

I haven't told anyone and don't plan to. However, it's also been frustrating and lonely to not have someone to vent to about many of the hiccups that have occurred.

That's why we're all here!

I've found, the longer out I am from surgery (Jan 28,2015) the longer it takes to lose the wt. I really didn't think I had lost anything over the summer, but looking at a book I kept track of in May, I lost 30lbs. It seems we don't lose much when you only see a lb here or there...but in the long run and the big picture, you are where you should be! You're doing great! Don't get frustrated...as many have told me...it's a marathon, not a sprint. I've been working on the same 5 lbs for the last month or more.

Hang in there!

I had my sleeve done on 8/12/15. I had very little post-op pain in the hospital, but I'm pretty sure they were johnny on the spot with my pain medications. I also warned them ahead of time that I usually am extremely nauseated and vomit after anesthesia, none of that this time! The worst part of the experience so far has been how tired I was in the hospital---no rest there! I have been home for 4 days now, and am dealing with the "head hunger" I was warned about on this site. I am not getting in my recommended fluids, although I am trying like mad. I have not cheated for the fear of damaging the sleeve. I still feel fatigued, but nothing like in the hospital. The whole thing still remains a dream to me. It seems so weird that this will change my life. I have the incisions to prove to myself that it was done, but my brain hasn't accepted the reality yet. I am super excited for the future me to bloom!

My husband and kids have been a great support system these past few days, as have my friends. Some family still thinks I made a HUGE mistake, but it was MY mistake to make, if indeed it is one.

I will be reading all of your posts for support in this clear liquid stage....already can't wait to get to pureed foods, but you won't hear THIS girl complaining!

Thanks for all the support so far and to come.

Heather

Good luck! You'll do great! Just a small tip to try..when the "head hunger" really gets at you...right after mine, I wasn't hungry, but my head told me everything sounded so good. I was on liquids...i went to McDonald's, paid $1 for a cheeseburger and chewed it up and spit it out....got another bite, chewed it up, spit it all out.....sounds strange, sounds gross...but let me tell you. It was the BEST $1 I ever spent! Just to get flavor and text in your mouth...made a world of difference!!!!

I was intially same way. I had planned all along to get the band. But then after the originally meeting we are required to attend before meeting Dr, it discussed all of the plans. I didn't want monthly Dr mtgs (I'm over an hour away) and I didn't want the chance of issues occurring. I went with the sleeve and am absolutely so happy I did!

I told very few ppl. My mom, my husband, my oldest son and 3 friends. I had C Diff a year before my surgery and IBS so my diet and body were really hurting. I just told ppl that I was still having issues from the C Diff...true and that I had a scope done (true) and the Drs put me on a specialized diet (true). They just didn't need to know the rest. I'm 2 lbs from my 100lb wt loss in a matter of 7 mo's. So, I am getting comments and tons of questions, but tell them, again a form of the truth. It's about portions and Protein and no carbs, bread, pastas, etc.

I do feel like a hypocrit, cause I do not lie....and telling this "lie" to ppl every day really eats at me...but it's no one's business. I hate being talked about and feel if they knew I had surgery, it'd be 100 times worse.

When I ask someone how I look in something (esp my family) I do expect an honest response. My hubby knows this, and long ago I promised to never get mad or upset with an honest opinion. That's why I ask. And if a family member asks me for my opinion, I will give it honestly. Not hurtfully, but honestly. However, when someone here at works makes a comment or judgement on me....I'm crushed. I'm about 70lbs down from wt loss surgery. I still picture myself as that fat, overweight woman who can't fit into anything. The compliments I receive are great and rewarding...but I don't believe them just yet. I don't see the change in me yet.

So...I get where you're coming from with being honest and expecting honesty back....but please make sure it's asked for first. It can so easily crush someone if not asked for. Good luck with your surgery!

Initially, I had my mind made up I was going to do the lap-band. Thinking it was a mild procedure, nothing would be cut or removed....sounded great. I went to the WLS meeting and instantly changed my mind. I did not want to have to run to the Dr (75miles away) every month, or more to have a checkup and change the band, if needed. I opted to go with the sleeve. Yes, it's permanent, but the more I thought about it, I felt it was a better choice. I had horrible GERD before the procedure and since having it done, have not had one issue of reflux or heartburn. I have had no complications from the sleeve, just trying to learn what I can and can't eat yet, even after 3 mo's out. I carefully went through all my options before surgery to determine which was best for me. And being a nurse, and seeing knowing which ones had more complications, that helped as well.

Good luck in your decision!

It's like working with a group of women who are all dieting. My office happens to be across the hall from the break room and my office has the nice, professional quality scale that they all come in and use....while griping about how they can't lose weight, while their plate of cake, Cookies, chips and salsa sits on my desk as they weigh. Do it and do it right....don't gripe when it doesn't work for you when you don't.

I'm so sorry. as a nurse....I feel ashamed sometimes of the profession. Youth anymore knows no compassion.

Haven't been on here in awhile. @newtree...and everyone else...how are you all doing? I know several of you had surgeries in March...how it going for you all? I'm 3.5 mo's out and am down 65lbs so far. Fitting into clothes I haven't worn in 4 yrs.

I had surgery at 9am and was released next day before 9am. Had it done in a surgical center and not a hospital.

Yep...all normal. I was 3 weeks postop and hit my first stall...which, from all I've read, it pretty normal time for it to occur. Sounds to me like you're doing great. Increase water....increase Protein and you will come out. Mine lasted about 2 weeks, but I've read others who have stalled for a month or more. I think it's our bodies way of saying "you didn't put it on overnight, I'm not taking it off overnight!"

Normal. Water retention, time of the month, muscle mass, bad time of day, leg hair too long, something stuck in your teeth... Don't fret it. It happens.

Great...now I'll be making sure I shave my legs before weighing! HA!

I really don't have an issue with eating too much. If anything, I'm wondering if I'm not eating enough? Last night for supper I tried about 2oz grilled chicken in small bites and about 4 cooked baby carrots. Sure enough, I spent the next 30 min spitting up regurgitated chicken and small carrots and tons and tons of slime...and frothy phlegm. I've really tried paying attention to how fast I'm eating, cause I suspect that as being a culprit too...but 1-2 minutes between bites should be slow enough, shouldn't it? Again...i'm looking for whatever advice I can get to try! Thanks!

I know this is a super old post, but I'm looking for answers that my surgeon can't give me. I'm 3 mo's out from a sleeve and have always had the slimes, since surgery. I can eat something and walk into the bathroom, just open my mouth and regurgitated food covered in thick slime just shoots out. Never over eat....I don't wait too long to eat...and really doesn't matter what I eat, it's always there. meats of course, are the main culprit, so I do limit them or keep away from them. But I've found issues with lots of other things as well. I haven't taken antiacids cause I never have pain/burning/or belching acid. Is this common? do I need an anitacid although not having any symptoms but the slimes? I just can't imagine that this is the rest of my life! Making sure there is a bathroom near me at all times to go spit this stuff out!

I can gain a lb or 2 on a daily basis and the next day it's back down. I think it's several factors...water/salt intake a day before/clothes....I weigh once a week at work (professional scale) but about every other day at home. I don't get too excited about it. I've gone up 2 lbs one day and by the start of the next week, been down 5lbs.

Are the Flintstone Vitamins like Gummy bears, or are they just chewable? I can't swallow the horse pills either, but there are signs around my Bariatric pratice that say any of the gummy bear vitamins aren't effective.

You can actually get either kind. I do the chewable since i don't like gummy bears. But I do know they come in that form as well.

I had bypass 4/28. I'm bewildered by those able to go back in a week. Initially I was gonna take two, but quickly decided for 3, which is what my doctor recommends. I work in an office, pretty sedentary.

I have six incisions, but 90% of the pain is coming from one of them. But my back and shoulders are incredibly achy too, mainly because I'm tense from the discomfort.

I had this too. A lot of my pain was built up gas pain from the surgery. Once that passed (a cpl weeks) it got better. Surprisingly, the more I moved around, the less pain I had. I agree with the incisions. I had 6 and one was the worst. That was the largest one that they removed the stomach from. Even to this day it's sore at times and I'm 3 mo's out. It'll get better!

I had surgery on a Wed and was back to work the following Tues. Would have been Monday except for a snow storm. No lifting and make sure you are still resting and getting sleep! I did great that Tues back...but then Wed hit me like a ton of bricks. No energy what so ever. I was sleeved....by Thurs I was back at it again and haven't slowed down since. Good luck!

Hey there! I need some suggestions. I was given the Bariatriac Advantage multivitamins and they come up quicker than they go down. My doctor said I could take the flinstone Vitamins instead but I'm not sure how many to take daily. I've read that some people take 1, others take 2.

Per surgeon recommendation, I take 2 Flintstones a day, 2 Calcium chewables and 3 Vit B6 disolvable pills.< /p>

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.

Great post. So correct on so many points!!