Search the Community

I'm sorry you're having a hard time. I wonder if you could be building lots of muscle & that's why the scale is moving slow? Have you lost inches & sizes? I've had 2-3 week periods where the scale only moves a half pound or so, but I lose inches. But no matter what, 46 lbs is GONE & that's gotta feel good!! Hang in there & try to focus on how much healthier & stronger you are.

Hey, I'm at 6 mos. also and I'm only down 52 lbs. I really don't care about the speed of loss, just that I'm losing. But, could it be that you're not getting in enough calories for what you're doing each day? I had to up things to get things moving again when I had a stall. I've got about 25-30 lbs to go and I'm trying to find a balance with calories in & calories out to maintain the loss w/no stalls. We've done well so don't beat yourself up. We're in this together. :-)

1 Week Post Opt. Band to Sleeve. I too have been very emotional and crying. I think its just the emotional journey we have had to endure. For Me it has been high anxiety of fear of the Sleeve Surgery and losing a big portion of my stomach. Maybe its your body expressing emotionally the loss of a organ? They say when you loose a limb that the opposite limb will express grief by pain. I feel Great now, and don't regret the sleeve at all. I too had severe scar tissue to my Liver. Just hang in there and remember the purpose at the beginning of our journey was and still is to be HEALTHIER AND FIND HAPPINESS WITHIN OURSELVES.

The band to sleeve surgery was the most painful experience of my life!! I had soooooo much pain day two and three! After the first week it was all better and no pain. Just discomfort from the drain! It gets easier!

i was banded on 1/17/11 and I have a 15 month old and another who will be 3 next month... I know that you are not suppose to pick them up for a while - I didnt make it. Within days I was picking them up (I had to get them into carseats etc.), but I made my husband do most of the lifting whenever possible. I usually sat down and made them climb on my lap (or have your baby handed to you). I would say you can't pick them up at all for 1 week and really should try not to for 2 weeks. So far I have been fine, no slips or problems - maybe I was just lucky. Dont worry, you will be fine.

Well I made it to my two week post op and I am down 28 pounds since I left the hospital. My doctor was very pleased with my results. I went home the day after surgery and I will return to work tomorrow. The first few days post op were rough, but now I am doing much better and each day it gets easier to get in all of my Protein and fluids. My right side still has some pain, but I don't even take pain medication for it. I was very surprised that I have healed as quickly as I have, since normally it takes me a long time to recover from surgery. I hope you all have a very Merry Christmas today. I will keep the updates coming.

I had mine on 1/18/16, lost 20lbs in the first 10 days, then gained back 6 and have stalled. I'm encouraged that at least I'm not the only one who has stalled, but the weight gain is what has me worried. Guess we'll have to have patience and wait it out, which is always fun...

My surgery is also scheduled for June 3rd. I am both nervous and excited. I start the pre-op diet next week and I hope these two weeks go by really quickly. Good luck and let's keep in touch!

Hi - you look fantastic! Thanks for sharing. I'm only 5 weeks out so I do appreciate seeing the success of others to keep me motivated and mindful. Well done!

I found out today that my pain is due to internal stitches placed by my surgeon to strengthen the area in the abdominal wall where the stomach was removed. Some have made reference to these stitches but I didn't realize that not all surgeons even place the internal stitches in order to ease recovery and some do minimal stitching. I think my surgeon did a stitching for an Amish quilt in there so hence the tugging and pain. While I hate the pain, it is temporary and for my benefit, so I feel better about it. Supposed it can be 3-6 weeks before it is relieved so I have a way to go. Thank you for the encouragement everyone. I feel better. Now, on with the never ending horrible fluids!

Yeah, you're about where I am. And yes, I've been struggling with my weight loss since about 5 months post surgery. I lose a pound, gain 2. Lose 1, gain 1. Stall for weeks, lose 2. Repeat. This is my life right now. And I am a stickler with the program, and also exercise 3-4 days a week. I try to shake things up by upping my calories and Protein, Water, exercise less, exercise more, but the pattern seems to stay the same. I just think our bodies are constantly adjusting and the weight loss will be slow going the less you have to lose. But maybe try changing things up a bit, or as someone suggested, make an appointment with your NUT and see if they can suggest anything? Good Luck!

Congrats! I'm over three years out, and I love the sleeved life. I've been at goal for more than two years and I'm about to wear out some jeans, instead of growing out of them! Looking forward to your two years plus success story. I'm saving you a spot on the goalies bench. There's room for lots of us cuz we are so much smaller :-) Lynda

Soooooo, I'm 9 weeks post, down 39 pounds. 5 pounds away from one-der-land. (Which i am beyond happy about) I had my first family gathering with family I haven't seen since Christmas, easily 39 pounds ago. Not one of them noticed or mentioned my weight loss. They don't know I had surgery, or at least I don't think they knew. I have to admit, that was a bit of a total bummer. I have gone from a stuffed size 20 to a Baggie 16 and not a word. Ugh! Has anyone else had that happen?

I don't use anything artificial to curb my hunger. I still concentrate on dense protein first, then veggies (raw carrots or broccoli fill me up quickly). I'm satisfied by the time I finish my 4-6 oz of protein and a couple of bites of raw veggies. I love steamed broccoli as well, and I can usually only fit two or three pieces of that after my protein.

Well here I am - still stuck in what I can only describe as a mental culdesac of indecision and frustration. I spend maybe 1-2 hours per day on this forum hoping to finally make my mind up. So far I've "decided" on several different surgeons. Except I haven't really "decided" anything - and therein lies the problem. Do you want to know what's been going on in my world of VSG madness ? - okay, first I wanted to go with BeLiteWeight - a little pricier but well reviewed (AND FYI their in house financing is easy peasy) but communication not so super but I can get over that. OH and NO DRAIN - me like that very much. So why haven't I committed with them ? - they tried a little scare tactic on me which I really don't appreciate. Don't try and boost your image by making someone else look smaller, not cool. Contestant number two - Ready4Achange - alma is ALL about communication - that girl gets straight back to you no matter when it is. Again, price is right, no easy finance though so would need to go through a nasty finance place but again, doctor reviews seem good - Alma is still definitely on my list. Contestant number three - Dr. Kelly - this guy is very clearly a rocking doctor but hampered by association with questionable coordinators and their shady tactics. A little on the high side but it isn't and never will be all about price (but lets be honest - it does have to have SOMETHING to do with it - unless you're independently wealthy) - he's still on the list though - can't look a gift doctor in the mouth. Now right about this time, I started getting interested in the "single incision" idea so began researching surgeons performing this. Enter Dr. Diaz - rated highly for this - they promote this as faster recovery and NO DRAIN (again - me like that) and price is actually pretty right - does not seem to have a ton of reviews however but what i could find seemed positive. Still on the list - but then enter contestant number four (Dr Ortiz) - read a lot about him and decided to check him out. Contestant number four - Dr. Ortiz - arguably the cutest doctor (yes, I am that shallow) Luckily he is also a very good doctor with super reviews. BUT does NOT perform single incision surgery because he feels it is "to risky and much bigger risk of bleeding" Here is what I want - safety first and foremost (like all of you, I would quite like to live) - secondly - I would like to not have to bankrupt myself (yes I am fully aware it isn't ALL about money - I get that already) - thirdly - I would quite like to lose weight afterwards and LAST of all - I want ALL of this with as little pain and discomfort as possible - what is so wrong about that ? I'm a chicken - so sue me. Okay I'm done - I'm gonna go have a cup of coffee and regroup and start researching again.

Lia - analysis paralysis (LOVE it) - yes, that is what I have for sure. First thanks to all for your responses and they all make huge sense of course. HAVE to explain I was joking a little about the pain comment - that was more my "ideal world" scenario and just being cheeky really. BUT if I'm being downright honest here - my biggest problem with surgery is the iv insertion due to my past problems with surgeries. They have a dickens of a time getting that sucker in and it HURTS. I had two surgeries within a week of each other a few years ago and both times that iv was a biatch to get in, they finally gave me a shot for pain and plugged it in okay. SO - here is my burning question to you - are there any surgeons that you know of that will do the iv AFTER you're out ? or at least dope you up with pain meds before they commence digging around for a vein ? (sorry but I must reiterate - the problem was not with the doctors and nurses - it truly is my stupid small veins)

Hi Angie, Congrats on your surgery! I have slowed in my weightloss with the mushies phase also. I am finding it to be one of the hardest phases because it's just difficult to know what to eat that is healthy and suited for weightloss. To me the suggestions my surgeon gave for this phase just feel so completely opposite of everything I was doing before the mushy phase. But even still I have continued to lose with losing 5.6 lbs this last week. One key is drinking lots of Water and another of course is getting out and walking every day. One thing that we have to remember is as we increase the calories consumption we need to increase the exercise to continue to burn off more then we consume. I hope this helps. Best of luck!

I want to see if i can get a band buddy. I'm having a difficult time and need guidance. I'm 4 months out and have not lost any weight in about 6 weeks. I have 2 children a 12 year old with autism and fatty livers disease. My daughter is 8. Been with my husband 14 years, married with him only a year. Lol. I work for a school and love my job. Send me a private message if interested.

I had fluid removed due to swelling from being sick. I gained a lot back and my doctor put me in the pre-op diet for 3 weeks to jump start me. It helped a lot!

So I go in for a fill next week but the fill I had 6 weeks ago was.....interesting. he had to dig around a little to hit center and I was a bit concerned and he said that I've lost so much weight that the fat around my port area has probably gone away so now its tilted and assured me it was nothing to be concerned about I was wondering though if anyone else had this happen?

I had done some research and heard anywhere from a size 32 french bougie to a 40. 40 being larger. My surgeon uses a 40. I'm just concerned it may not be as restrictive. I don't really have a choice but was curious of others experience and successes with various sizes. Also I am 298 lbs and the surgeon said he'd be disappointed if I didn't lose 100 lbs in a year and not surprised if I lost 100 in 6 months. Is this possible? Other lose that much in 6 month's? Any tips for success .I would be thrilled to lose 100 in 6 months.being 5'6" my ideal weight is around 140. I'd be happy with 160. I'd be happy to see the 100's again. What's folks regiment post op for exercise ie: 1 week out 1 month 3 month etc... Thx

ask your surgeon what he recommends. I think you will find the surgeons recommendations on alcohol as varied as they are on caffeine/coffee! I think I had my first social drink at maybe 12 weeks post op, but I tend to avoid alcohol altogether now because it really is just excess calories. If we are out with friends I will get a "token drink" and sip at it, but that's about it. I'm all about not throwing the calories and carbs away for drinks. :-)

Good evening all my fellow sleevers, and sleevers to be... I have been reading a lot of the posts on this site, and although there are many people here that offer positive reinforcement to others, I see much, much more of the self negativity. If you stop and think for just a second, who is your biggest cheerleader? Who is your biggest fan? YOU ARE!!! Too many people speak too much negativity into their own spirits about what they can't do or think they can't do. My mother (God rest her soul) always said to me, "Don't tell me what you can't do, tell me what you CAN do". All of us have very difficult struggles ahead of ourselves, whether you are pre or post op. We MUST starting speaking more positivity to ourselves. We need to tell ourselves, "Yes I'm going to make it through the next 2 weeks of a liquid only diet". "Yes, I'm going to walk for at least 10 minutes everyday". Everything you say to yourself should start with, "I can or I will". ONLY POSITIVE AFFIRMATIONS!! If you tell yourself, you can't, you won't, or even I don't know, its not going to happen because you're beginning with a defeatist attitude. Speak positivity to yourself, say it out loud so your brain and your subconscious hear you claim the positive affirmation. You will be shocked when you realize how strong you really are, but you've always started the race 2 paces behind the pack because you started doubting yourself before you even got started. Start building your "new self esteem" NOW! You won't have time later on because you'll be too busy LOOKIN' GOOD!!! You CAN, You WILL, I CAN, I WILL... Let these words be your mantra. Just remember fear and self doubt bring failure and disappointment. We have all experienced too much of those in our lives already. Remember this... "Insanity" is doing the same thing over and over again, expecting a different result. Let's start today doing something different, expecting a POSITIVE result! Thank you for your gift of time!.... Michelle

Happy (early) Birthday!!! Hang in there! You didn't travel this far just to chicken out. I'm turning 59 later this week and received a call this morning telling me my surgery date was moving up to 11/10 (from 12/8) if I wanted that date. I said YES!!! So ready to get this behind me so I can get past the post-op process. Have to start my 2 week (minus 1 day ) pre-op diet today so there won't be any going out to supper on my birthday , but we'll Celebrate another time.

I'm about 12 weeks out and I'm down 47 pounds. Haven't had complications, sleep better, off my diabetic meds and feeling happy! My question is about the future. My biggest fear is back sliding into old problems, I want to stay in this good place I'm now in. I can only eat moderate amounts of food and that restriction is helping me change things for the better. When I'm a year or two out will that be completely gone? I'm worried. I'm really hoping this help sticks with me. Any experiences from long timers would be fantastic to hear! Thank you!