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@@bdfletch I can tell the difference but it looks like you are wearing clothes that are too large for you. You will never see the difference or feel the difference if you keep wearing loose flowy clothes that are too large! Get some clothes that fit, you will feel so much better.

@PaleoKris: I think that doctors and insurance companies should think ahead. It doesn't make any sense to say 'you don't have any co-morbidities yet so we won't pay for the band". Such a dumb-ass thing to say! So you have to wait until you get worse? Because most of us know how to loose weight but we end up regaining all the weight and then some. But we do have the same issues over here. If you're not approved by the specialists then the insurance companies over here will also turn you down. So even with our insurance system, there are those who will have to pay for themselves. I think they go by international regulations: BMI of 40 and up or a BMI of 35 with co-morbidities. I'm glad to hear that you enjoy Amsterdam so much. Did you experience Queensday yet? @Birinak: Thanks for the advise! I think it will be April/May for us. We were planning to see Montreal as well, drive up there from Toronto. And of course see the Niagara falls.. got to see that! I can't wait to get to Vancouver. We'll be going to Whistler to see some snowy mountains as well... it is close to Christmas time then so that must me a great atmosphere. I'm glad to hear that Belgium gave your family a safe place to live and I hope you will get to see it soon. You'll love Antwerpen (city of diamonds, so bring cash! LOL) and I also love Brugge and Gent. But there are countless nice places! Greetzzz, Kim

I am having an amazing journey. Time for toning [emoji123] and skin removal. Sent from my LM-Q710(FGN) using BariatricPal mobile app

I know some of the stomach swelling was from gas. but I am two weeks out, and my stomach is still so swollen. I can tell by my pants being tight on my waist - pants that were loose before surgery and I have lost about 10 lbs since surgery. . i m sure muscles, etc are still swollen and healing in there, right? its not really painful, just uncomfortable sometimes.

I'm 22 months out and I thought I was the only one going through this. I am gonna call my dr. in the morning and ask about b12. I am sick nd tired of loosing my train of thought or forgetting why I got up and walked in another room. I'm only 42, so hopefully it's not early dimenta. Thank you for posting this. Maybe this b12 could be a game changer.

I am suddenly getting a crazy amount of dried skin on my hands and feet about 2 months in. Also I noticed my memory seems to be a little off, like remembering details like people I just met names. I'm getting enough protein between 70 and 80 grams, and taking multivitamins, B12 and D. Anyone else experience similar?

Welcome to the zit club ...???? my skin has been so bad I went to the dermatologist. I have great skin and always have but not anymore.

More than likely, you are doing nothing wrong. I was sleeved 2/4 and I lost every day the first 15 days for a total of 18 pounds then nothing for the next 9 days. Very frustrating considering it is impossible for me to overeat! But, even though I was not losing during those 9 days, my clothes were getting more and more loose so something was happening. And then this morning, I got on the scale and I was down 2 pounds. Just keep doing what you are doing and the stall will break.

I've recently had a horrible experience, need to vent, and wondered if anyone else went through something similar. This past Sunday, I got stuck and vomited. Not the first time it's happened, so I expected to spend the next couple days on liquids. Monday morning I tried a couple sips of warm tea and it came up almost immediately. I called my MD's nurse and explained the situation; she asked me to come in Wednesday at 1PM and she would get me worked in. (My MD is in the clinic all day Monday and half a day on Wed/Fri, other days he is in surgery, doing rounds at the hospital, or at a nonbariatric clinic right on the same block as the bariatric clinic. Also, he is the only person who does fills/unfills. He has no partner or another person trained.) I agreed with her suggestion thinking that the band would loosen up enough to dring at least by Tuesday morning. Unfortunately, I was wrong. I couldn't swallow my own spit much less Water. So, I called the clinic again on Tuesday. By this time I'm desperately thirsty, I've lost 10 lbs since Sunday, I'm vomiting up what little spit I'm producing and accidentally swallowing at least every 2 hours. My temperature is over 100 and my skin turgor is getting worse; my eyelids and skin over my knuckles would stay up in a little peak if I pinched them. I was peeing in small amounts sporadically. I knew I was dehydrated and voiced my concern to the nurse. She responded that he was in surgery all day, and she would try to get ahold of him. And, if she didn't call back, come in the previously arranged time on Wednesday. I responded that I didn't think I could wait that long. Her answer to this was to go to the ER. I was astounded! During the year and a half that I've been a patient, the MD and staff have constantly hammered into me to just give them a call if I need anything . I take this to mean that if an urgent situation like this arises, I can call and get their help quickly. I was very wrong. She did call back and told me to be at the clinic at 0830 Wednesday morning; the MD would come in between hospital rounds. I was so tired by this point and agreed. The next morning my husband drove me to the clinic (by this time I'm very weak, I'm down 12 lbs d/t Fluid loss). I check in and am told that it could be one hour or even three hours before he comes by. By this time I'm so tired and dispirited that I can hardly think. I burst into tears and say I'm going to have him take out all of the fill, I haven't had anything to drink in nearly three days, I've tried to get an appointment for the past two days, my husband has to be at work at 10, etc... I can't even completely remember everything I said, my brain was so clouded. I sit and the desk clerk tells me he has been paged. By the time I see him, it's nearly 11AM!! I had him take all of the fill out although he was initially going to just take a bit out to "decompress", but I insisted. I have a one-month appointment made, but I'm really debating going back. I love my band and don't regret having it done, but don't wish to risk a repeat of this experience. I am about 20 lbs away from my healthy weight and have learned a lot of great habits, so I don't doubt that I could do it. It would just be more slowly. Has anyone else had an experience like this? How did your doctor respond? Sorry so long and thanks for reading:redface:

I will get my first fill...THE DAY BEFORE THANKSGIVING! I'm thinking that may be cruel and unusual punishment! I've asked my family to postpone thanksgiving 1 day so maybe I can at least eat a few things and not have to drink it. My doctor recommends 24hrs full liquids and then progress as tolerated. I know my band is very loose and I don't expect much restriction with the first fill. I'm curious to know if anyone tried some solid foods 48hrs after fill.

So my NUT said she does not want me counting calories. That made my jaw drop! Maybe I am old school, but I thought that was to help me loose weight. I am in shock. Are you counting calories?

I am having my surgery tomorrow actually... and I was told all piercings had to come out, which presented a problem as i have my smiley done and when it was piericed the ball was lightly welded in, therefore it wont just come out it would need to be cut out. After hearing this I was told that during the surgery an insturment can be used 'sometimes' that any metal on you it could burn the skin, so they are going to put a layer of gauze under my piercing and hopefully it will be ok! As far as something like the navel I would say just go on and take it out, let it heal and get it re done. I'm taking my others out right before they take me into the OR, then putting them back in asap, and if you do that too, then it might be ok! GL

Thanks. I can't seem to stomach any protein shakes. Got flavored Isopure drinks but they dry your mouth. Tried fruit smoothie protein drink and its all gritty. Tired of jello and broths. Thought I wasn't loosing cause I don't have enough water & protein

Surgery date 2/27 weighed 203...now 197 Same here. Feel like i should be loosing more.

Miralax will work. Give it time. Start using it every day for awhile. You can stop it if you start getting loose stools.

I am two weeks out and of course, nothing yet, but fingers crossed. I'm taking hair skin and nail vitamins (biotin) every day plus getting 65 g of protein each day and I'm also using biotin and collagen enhanced shampoo and conditioner. Here's hoping!!! My hair is pretty thick and curly so I am prayerful that even if I lose a little bit, it won't be terribly noticeable! Good luck ladies!

it was 5 days for me before I went, and then it was loose. I figured it would be until more solids go in.

Margo, I know exactly what your thinking, Although you were banded 3 months after I was, we have gone thru the same, stand still. I didn;t even think about a platu at the time because the 60 lbs went fast and easy for the most part. I did the switch from the scale to the measurements for encouragemtn sake, and only the scale when I weigh in with Dr. H. that has mad the victories more real. I list the NSV's and the inches total lost about once a month WOW that is encouragement. TRY IT! it has amazed me how the scale wont move, but the inches like 7 on month and no pounds, hell, that went from tight clothes to loose. and that is what matters the size not the scale and the deap breath and energy not the scale. Keep your head high, DAMN WOMAN youve lost a small child BE PROUD!!!

Oh wow! I really have a hard time believing the changes in just a month. The pics show more than I can feel. I knew my jeans were looser and I could feel less chub in my belly when I'm sitting down. This is great to see the difference. The swim shorts I am wearing in the pics are actually loose!! I actually think my middle belly roll has disappeared and I'm starting to get my old hour glass shape emerging. I never thought I would be able to post pics but I'm just so happy that I really just want to share my happiness. My husband has said he noticed the changes but I thought he was just being nice. Now I can see what he is talking about. I am thrilled with my sleeve so far. No, it hasn't been all fun and games. There has been tough times and I know there will be more. The 3rd week stall really ticked me off. However, i got through it and proceeded to drop 6 pounds during the last 8 days. I really can't complain about that. I just attempted to attach the pics in order for you. I've never posted pics before so I hope this works. Thanks to everyone for all of their support. Big hugs! Lisa

hi, I am 7 weeks out tomorrow. I am in a stall too and keep telling myself well this it; your not gonna loose anymore....uugghhh I hate that. I do not crave sweets anymore because they make me ssoo sick, I can't eat fried foods anymore but I stil want to. They make me really sick too. I am kinda down today not feeling so great about anything really. This is the first time since my surgery seven weeks ago that I just feel kinda depressed about everything. It is weird, nothing specific just kinda generalized depression and short tempered. Oh well this to shall pass right!! Hope all goes well for you keep your chin up!!

Right now all you can do is eat your Protein and take Biotin, although the latter of the two is debatable as to how well it works. As your body recovers from being terrified that you cut out your stomach and only fed it liquids and soft food for awhile, it will eventually divert resources back to your less important areas, like the skin and follicles in your scalp. In theory, losing hair as a result of stress or nutritional changes is your body trying to save you from death- it sends the important resources to your vital organs. I suppose its rationale is that you can be bald and alive, or you can have hair and be dead, and while it's kind of an extreme analogy, that's the "thought" process of the body when it goes through major trauma and nutritional change. That being said, now that you are done traumatizing your body it will eventually realize that you are not trying to kill it and it will slowly give you back your hair. The better you feed yourself and keep up with your nutrition, the more quickly your body will relax and think "ok cool, we aren't dying, let's have pretty hair again". My body did not decide to give me back my hair again for awhile, lol. I lost hair I think around 5 months, and it stayed thin for awhile, probably almost 18 months. Then it started growing back and at 2 years, half of it fell out again, although I'm pretty sure that was more just stress hair loss than anything to do with my sleeve. It has now been about 8 months since my last "omg I'm going bald" incident and I can feel that my hair is thickening. When I brush it there is a giant poof around my ears where the new hair has grown in and the older hair is still thinner. I've also paid a lot of attention to Vitamins the last few months because my thin hair bothered me. I'm not sure if biotin works or not but I've been taking a lot of it and it's not like it's hurting me, so maybe it's working. At any rate...your hair will slowly start to grow back and the best thing you can do is eat well, be kind to your hair, and maybe invest in a hat. Jk on that last one, lol.

@@moniquea I'm sure you're emotional. Loose skin is not the end of the world - or the end of your life ... obesity could have been! It's mostly about genetics, age, how much weight lost, how often did you gain/lose, etc. Think about how much better you will feel when you've lost weight - and don't worry about skin issues!

I'm currently on the puree'd foods. I am, as I think many of us are, very tired of whey protein. I can start on soft foods next Thursday. But things are going well. I am a bit more tired than I thought I would have been, but I find a nap during the day seems to perk me up. Prior to surgery, I was taking 17 different medications (metabolic syndrome) plus a shot twice a month; I am now taking 4 medications, plus the two shots. No high blood pressure, no heart angina, no osteoarthritis. So overall right now, feeling pretty great on top of it. I do have a question; while I am loosing steadily, once in a while I have a day where it goes up just a bit (about half-one pound). Am I doing something, or is this just one of the attempts of my body to find equilibrium with the weight loss? Thanks!

I have not logged in a month. My nut said if I am eating my protein exercising and loosing that I should not worry. If I loose slow or gain she would not be able to make change recommendations.....so, like all things in life, it is a personal choice. Good luck