Thinside

I'm using coconut oil at least once a week, firming lotion at least twice a week, and Vitamin e oil once a week. Other days I use lotion (Lubriderm, in a pump bottle -- yikes! ) Also, I exfoliate a lot. Mostly because I'm trying to prevent sagging, but so far my skin hasn't been too dry. Also, I've been told to avoid too hot Water in showers and baths.

I was on phentermine for 6 months. I did lose weight, but I hated that drug so much. It made me feel anxious and "wired" and irritable and I worried constantly about the side effects. As soon as I stopped taking it, I gained all the weight back. Not sure what advice I have for you -- I do listen to doctors' expertise, but I also advocate for myself -- I guess I might consult another doctor. Like most people considering this surgery, I researched it thoroughly and had YEARS of trying to lose weight through every means imaginable, including WW, Jenny Craig, weight loss "camp," personal trainers, and medication. When I resolved to do this thing, it was because I knew my life and future depended on it. I'm glad my Primary Care doctor supported me in that. If she hadn't, I probably would have found another.

I had surgery on August 5. Day of surgery I weighed 215 (from a high of 234, BMI right at 40 when I started this whole process). I have lost "only" 19 pounds in just over 5 weeks. I, too, sometimes compare my numbers to others'. But I am overall really happy with my loss. I haven't been below 200 in too many years…so long I can't remember when! I am losing weight and know I will keep it off. I feel in control of my weight for the first time in a looonnnngggg time. So, who cares what everyone else's numbers look like? I am rocking this! And so are you!

Yes they can. My surgeon's insurance coordinator told me NOT to fall below a certain weight. She had a case where the insurance company (the same as mine) approved surgery. Then, at the pre-op visit a day or two before the surgery, the patient was weighed again. He/she was below the threshold BMI and the day before surgery, the insurance company revoked the approval! Not telling this to scare you…this is just what I was told. I lost only what she told me to lose before surgery. And I wore my heaviest clothes and jewelry to the weigh-ins!

Well, thank you Elode, et al. This is certainly a timely topic for me. I'm only 5 weeks out and I haven't lost a huge amount at all yet. (Don't get me wrong, I'm happy with where I am.) But last week I started getting dizzy every time I stood up and had horrible fatigue. I thought it might have been a sinus infection. But reading this, I'm going to really watch out for this. I've always had somewhat low blood pressure. I hope the sleeve hasn't made it worse! I, too, have noticed it might correspond to when I'm hungry or haven't had enough fluids. I'm going to start logging it when it happens and try to correlate it to my food and Water logs. ( I take a multi-Vitamin, Iron, D, Calcium, Biotin, and B-12 every day, so I suspect it's not a vitamin deficiency.) Thanks for this useful topic!

Mine was two. No complications at all; that's just what they require. I was glad to be there, getting cared for and having pain meds.

I hated Phentermine too. I took only half a dose, every other day. But nevertheless I had sufficient records to get approved, so in the end it was worth it. I was also worried about falling below the qualifying BMI/weight, which was borderline. I didn't lose much before the approval came through -- my insurance coordinator told me not to. I sweated all of this stuff, but it all worked out, and I'm sure it will for you, too!

@@Jean A Enger what were the symptoms of your internal bleeding, if I may ask?

@@J.lynn My insurance also required a 6-month supervised weight loss program. Then realized that I had been on phentermine under my doctor's supervision for more than 6 months. I was able to document that with a letter from the doctor's office and copies of my prescription records from Walgreens (which will give you a print out on written request). In addition, I submitted two years' of food logs and weight records from Sparkpeople, a letter from a weight loss residency program I attended for two weeks, and Jenny Craig and Weight Watcher's receipts from my credit cards. I was approved without the 6 months supervised diet.

@@Deanna Schultz I had surgery the same day. Other than the first week, I've been feeling GREAT! With lots of energy, eating fine, no food causes me any trouble (on soft food). Up until this weekend that is. It was really hot and humid out, I worked in the yard two days, and I probably got over-heated and maybe dehydrated. I don't know if it's related to that or not, but for the last two days, I have gotten dizzy every time I stand up and I have no energy. What's more, my stitches/stomach hurt for the first time in at least two weeks. I don't know what is going on, but it's worrisome! I keep wondering if I am bleeding internally or tore my stitches or something. So, I know how it feels to feel drained and tired and unable to get the liquids in!

My doctor put me on a medication to prevent gallstones for the first 6 months after surgery. They are HUGE capsules, but I'm taking them as ordered.

@@Graciesmom04 wow, 101 pounds. That is impressive! Congratulations!

@@dhrguru . . . look for a recent thread I started on "How will I dress as a thin woman." People had some AMAZING suggestions.

Congratulations Daisy Girl! Vacations and celebrations are a big minefield so it's nice to know it's possible to negotiate that successfully. I have my first extended family Sunday dinner tonight. Not sure how it will go! And next week I'm eating out with folks who don't know about my sleeve. Planning to go to an Indian restaurant, so I know I can order palak paneer and raita, which are soft.

Oh yeah, totally understood that! Just dreaming… and of course worrying!

@@VSGAnn2014 thanks so much for your thoughtful response. I'm trying so hard not to obsess, but I don't want to screw this up, and I read about people eating 500 calories a day. Even with this sleeve, I feel like I'd starve on that. I still do get hungry, although now a 1/4 cup of refried Beans fills me up. That meal plan looks like a dream. I hope I will be able to eat apples and baby raw carrots -- but I'm not going to try for a while!

I am using the New whey Protein shots, but only as a small part of my protein program, especially since they are not a "complete" protein. Here's what I'm doing: I pour 1/2 of a container in my 20-0z container of ice Water in the morning and shake it. This dilutes it enough that it doesn't taste at all bad. In fact, I like it better than plain water (which used to be my absolute favorite beverage, but which now tastes metaliic.) I drink the water + protein throughout my morning. That gives me 21 grams of protein. But I try to get most of my protein from food, and I'm not really using other powders or Protein drinks much (can't stand the bottled/canned protein drinks -- they are just too sweet!) If I could find a great tasting powder or liquid Protein to put in coffee , I would be in heaven!

@@VSGAnn2014 Loved your post! It makes so much sense that our bodies would get used to a set point, and if that set point is 1000 calories, eventually we could gain weight even on that. Would you mind sharing what a typical day's meals look like? I'm just 23 days out and having a hard time visualizing how I'll ever be able to eat 100 grams of Protein, 5 servings of fruit and veggies, and 21 grams of Fiber. I'm struggling to get my 60-80 grams of protein (hitting it, but have to work hard at it) and I am WAY under on fiber. My only veggies right now are in V8. Which I can drink a 5.5 oz can of!!! More worrisome, I can eat 5 ounces of mushies/puree no problem. And if my stomach is empty, I get nauseated. I'm finding I eat a small something every couple of hours just to keep from feeling nauseous and having a feeling that my tummy is gnawing itself away. As a result, I'm eating about 800 calories a day. I'm worried that's too much this early. I'm starting soft foods tomorrow (which my Nut distinguishes from pureed, although I'm not exactly sure that the difference is!)

@@Wendyfm the only time I saw mine was once before the surgery and when I was on the table. All my post-op -- and pre-op -- visits except for one 10 minute visit were with PA's or NPs. I am a bit put off by this, to be honest.

I use Sparkpeople for food, weight, exercise and other goals. And Waterlogged on my phone for Water. What I like about Sparkpeople is you can specify which nutrients you want to track, add recipes, copy foods from day to day, and track other goals. So I track my Vitamins (so many!), how often I use coconut oil and firming lotion (trying to prevent sagging!) It also links to my Fitbit. And you can see reports over time. It's fun watching the line for weight head down to the right hand corner! I find it really easy to use. I don't like Sparkpeople for water, though, because it's by the glass, not ounces. Plus it's easier for me to log that on the app on my phone.

@@jfzimmerman . . . I was also sleeved August 5th. I've stalled too, but expected it (maybe not quite this soon) thanks to this community! Stalled at 11 pounds post surgery.

It's weird, but I'm on puree, and that includes cottage cheese and mashed beans/refried Beans according to my Nut. My stages were 2 days Clear liquids, 7 days liquids, 2 weeks puree, and next week I start 2 weeks of soft. I've been confused about what "soft" means. I know I can add eggs, and maybe some fruit (although I've already had some fruit in smoothies.) I'm curious what else soft food includes….

@@TXTinana … I went to a Japanese restaurant on Saturday, right at 3 weeks out (on pureed food). It was my first meal out since the sleeve, and I enjoyed it so much! I had a bowl of miso soup (ate maybe half of a small bowl), agedashi tofu (ate 3 pieces and had a bit of the broth) and one sumai (I chewed it really, really well). I'm waiting for sashimi until soft foods (next week). I had no problem at all, other than a bit of gas, but I probably ate a little too much.

I didn't even have to do clear liquids or liquids at all the day before. I was simply told, eat a 1200-calorie a day diet for 6 weeks before and don't have anything including liquids after midnight the day before surgery. (My surgery was at 8:30 a.m., at a Center of Excellence and a major university hospital.) It went fine. So I'd say, tell your surgeon, but don't stress overly about it.

I'm going to buck the trend here and say I would wait. Not everyone has a perfectly smooth recovery, and even if you do, you'll still be tired and adjusting to your new eating habits. I can't imagine going to classes right after having the surgery, much less taking care of a child without the additional help. I also took a trip right before surgery. I had lost 19 pounds in the 6 weeks leading up to surgery, and lost none the last week before, but my doctor was fine with this because my liver had shrunk from the recent weight loss. I wouldn't gorge in Paris, but . . . it would also be a chance to have some amazing food (food funeral of sorts). If you go after, you won't be able to eat much of anything, depending on how your doctor schedules the stages. Ditto for the holidays. Just speaking for myself, I would find it hard to be sleeved right before Thanksgiving, etc. Again, I would still try to eat healthy and lose some weight during this time. Just my two cents. Only you can decide what's right for you.