Jon_gets_skinny

Haven’t been on in awhile, but figured I’d throw in an update since my surgery. I’m 6’2” so that helps a little bit with the weight loss, I guess? Lol but my SW was 307, and for about a week or so now I’ve been holding steady at 207. Down 100 pounds and feeling fantastic. I wish I had got this surgery sooner. I honestly wasn’t expecting to get down below 210, it’s incredible. I hope one day I’ll be able to sit down and do a very in-depth post to share for those getting the surgery and give a little inspiration to others. You’re all awesome! Keep up the good work!

My doctor gave me short term disability time off. Not that I needed it, I was fine and could go back to work like the next day. But hey, vacation for me so not complaining :) but the next day I was up and walking around no problems. Went for a hike actually two days later.

From a males perspective, I think you look amazing just the way you are :) Agreed with others, save the money and do a trip!

Hey everyone! So had my surgery today all is going well so far other then the discomfort of all the gas still in my body (just feels like I have to burp but I can’t) I’ve gotten up to walk a couple times so far to keep the blood moving. I have to stay at the hospital for night, unknown when I can get the scan to check to make sure there’s no leakage but it’s already 10pm so I assume it’ll wait until tomorrow. Quite annoying because all I can have is ice chips until then, water isn’t allowed. Onto the road to a brand new life!

Technically mine was “outpatient” because I stayed in the hospital less then 24 hours. My surgery was at 1pm and I had left the next morning around 11am. So I think that is considered outpatient even though I stayed overnight. I had bare minimal pain, if I would even consider it pain, just was very gassy. They gave me liquid Tylenol Codeine but I didn’t even use it.

I agree Sandra, mobility and health. I want to be able to run again and perhaps participate in a half marathon, I heard it’s a huge accomplishment feeling especially for those who are overweight. Kayaking is awesome, you’ll get there! 😊

Hey @shellcat Glad you’re able to get more protein in, for me, every day it definitely got easier to drink more and get more protein in. Just got to do a little more each day. For me I had to go on short term disability because my work I do a lot of walking and strenuous work and my doctor said she didn’t want me put that much stress on my body especially the first 4 weeks until the stomach actually solidifies. So I’m out of work for 4 weeks but making the best of it. Been doing hiking trails everyday since about two days after surgery. I’ve never had this much time off of work before lol

Hey everyone, So I have finally decided that I needed to reach out for some extra support on this journey. I thought I would be able to “man” up and handle this surgery on my own but let me tell you, as reality finally steps in that tomorrow is my surgery, I’m beginning to feel super anxious about the whole thing. It really hasn’t hit me until today and that’s why I’ve turned here. I think it’s hard to talk to anyone else who doesn’t understand obesity and the struggle of weight loss, they tend to just nod their head and agree or just simply seem like they don’t understand, there’s no connection in the conversation, feels like you’re almost like talking to a wall. So I guess maybe it’ll be easier to talk to someone going through the same experience through all this? Anywho, so here I am. Trying to overcome this surgery anxiety. Thanks for any tips and tricks. I’ve read so many posts and weight loss stories already which has been helping but ya know, anxiety is just always there no matter what. I guess I’m just here to talk with you all about your experiences and journeys on a first hand basis. Thank you again! -Jon

Hey Sandra! That’s an excellent idea making a list! My main focus though is to get healthy and get off this BP medication and high cholesterol medication. I also have bad knee pain in my right knee but mostly only when I’m going down steps, so I’m hoping this will take care of that. Then there’s countless of other things, like simply being able to walk up a flight of stairs without being out of breathe and feeling better about myself. And hopefully get out of these XXL shirts also 😁I also had the gastric sleeve done, not the band, but still to answer, I’ve had zero issues with reflux so far

I was super nervous and anxious when the day before surgery myself. That’s why I actually decided to join this forum to get positive feedback and read a lot of amazing weight loss stories which inspired me to get passed the anxiety. Once the surgery was over it was a huge sigh of relief and I was just ecstatic at that point to get up and motivate myself to my own weight loss journey. Nervous is normal :) hope all goes well and hope to read your weight loss journey soon!

Wow no leak test! I feel like for me personally it’s just a sense of relief knowing there’s no leak I guess, did you have the sleeve performed? The gas pain definitely subsides, so don’t worry! If it’s gas pain from the surgery, walking around had helped me get rid of that. If it’s gas pain after your swallow something, then time was the only thing that helped. It’s been a week for me and all the gas pain has dissipated for me. I didn’t take any gasX for pain relief as by the time I got the word out on here about it, I had already started feeling better and just pushed through it. Speedy recovery for you! It’ll go by quick, it’s already flying by for me :)

Hey everyone, So I had my surgery yesterday, got the leak test completed and all is well to start my clear liquid diet. My question is, every time I seem to drink something, (I’m only taking very tiny sips) but I get serious like gas burping pain... has anyone had this feeling after surgery? If so, how long did it last? I cant drink as much as I should because of this awkward burping gas I get. Thank you!

I’ll have to ask about gasX when I go to my follow up appointment, thanks!

I’m feeling really good :) the gas has definitely settled down. I’m making sure to continue with my walking regimen, 3-4 miles everyday so far. I’m down to 267 as of yesterday, I lost 10 about a week before liquid preop diet, then 10 days of that dropped another 20 and 5 days after surgery weighed in another 10 pound loss. So going to keep pushing and hope I can get to 220! But all and all, strong as bull and still have no hunger which is amazing!

Hey there! I almost opted for the balloon too, but ultimately ended getting the sleeve done (being it was a permanent solution to my weight loss difficulties, my surgeons told me that it wasn’t a permanent fix and covered under my insurance.) So I guess I’m curious, what happens to your stomach during the time with the balloon in? Does it shrink in size? So that when they remove the balloon you’re not tempted to want to go back to eating as much as before? I never really understood the balloon thing? I guess to me what I’m thinking, is that you have this balloon taking up all this space in your stomach but once they remove it, now you have all that empty space back to re-indulge. Does that make sense? I’m just curious about the long term solution, not that I can go back now lol Thanks and congrats on your amazing weight loss journey!

Hey there! Thank you so much and good luck to you on yours! And yeah there’s a leak test, they make you drink this god awful contrast which I nearly threw up (why they don’t make one that tastes good is beyond me) lol

Thank you! Warm soups definitely helps and been trying to stay active by walking around everyday. It’s been slowly getting better so going to give it a few more days.

Doing very well. :) The gas pains from the surgery has gone, now I just have some small gas discomfort from eating or drinking but it has been getting a lot better. Other then than, I’m doing very good! Thank you for asking!

Best of luck to you too! Hopefully someone who’s been out of surgery a little longer can give us some insight.

Hey rosekay! I actually had my VSG on April 17, 2019, so I’m still on my clear liquids. Anyways, I have the exact same feeling after I drink anything. Whether I take the tiniest of sips or just a normal little sip, hot or cold, i always get some terrible gas pains after a couple sips. I’ve read a few things that it’s normal for up to a week, and that it’s just your new stomach adjusting still. But I too have the same gas, stuck in my stomach feeling.

Thank you :) And yes, get it sooner rather than later, because if you continue to wait you’ll never get it done and continuously second guess getting it. And being young, I’m sure that helps with the healing process from the surgery. I’m now on my second day post op and am feeling very good. I went into surgery starving, stomach pains and growling, but now after I have zero desire to eat. It’s crazy feeling because that’s all I used to want to ever do. This forum has been very helpful with the support for me as well. I joined specifically because I too wanted to talk to people who are going or went through the same thing because some people just don’t understand. What also helped was reading others inspiration stories and seeing there difference.

Thanks for the reply justmej, that helps ease my mind a little bit because that’s exactly how I’m feeling. Like stomach/chest area have a dull ache like I have to burp but can’t. So glad that this is normal feeling

So when you drank water, you get a lot of gas in your stomach too?

Thank you everyone! Made it back home and things are looking good so far!

Thanks everyone! Passed the leak test! So hopefully on my way home soon!