Looking for anyone in the Portland Metro area who is willing to share their experiences. I also like to have creat a group to meet in person every month or every other month. Maybe a physical activity we can do. Plus I need new friends who understand that we dont have to have eat to have fun.

Kirk Jacobson @ oak st medical in Eugene. Ph 541-431-0000. I would bet his associates are too, but I'm not sure. Maybe ask when u call. He was 100% supportive. Good luck. If all else fails, ask ur surgeon for referral!

Hi All! I just had my sleeve in TJ on July 16, 2012. I am so hungry right now all I can think about it eating, but I can't even drink very much. My daughter made a delicious vegetable broth for me this afternoon and I felt great after that, but I am so hungry still. I also have a lot of Water retention. I gained 27 pounds in a week that I had nothing but Clear liquids and today I got up and 15 of that was gone. Did anyone else have such a massive gain while in the hospital? This is definitely not easy. I hope it gets easier. I have been kicking myself for doing something so drastric when I should have just been able to control my appetite, but I guess that's why we all are here. I live North of Vancouver in the La Center/Woodland area and would really like to meet some other people who have chosen this wls route. Please write to me and let me know if you would like to get together for some water Soup or something. Hahaha!

Hi,

No, I never had any weight gain like you. I do want to say, honestly you think your are hungry and it is what we call "head hunger." You actually couldn't eat the food if they gave it to you, because right now your stomach will only hold about as much food as the size of your thumb because your stomach is swollen. Head Hunger is this biggest challenge we ALL had to face. It is more like you want to eat not that you need to eat. You will lose that extra weight pretty fast.

It is a big step and most of us have had the feeling that you are having. They will go awat once you start losing the weight. If you could have lost the weight on your own honestly you would have by now. The problem is for most of us we would regain it back after losing it. You have to make a lifestyle change--not think about being on a diet. A lifestyle change is something that you can do for the rest of your life. I never feel deprived. I eat small amount of food, and for the most part I make them healthy food choices. Yes, I have a small amount of desert now and then, but only a sliver of what I used to eat. And I do not eat it everyday. Just now and then.

I have learned to bake some things that I can have that are not loaded with sugar and carbs. There are some great low carb cookbooks out there. The 1st month is the hardest month you will ever have to do. After that it gets a lot easier. These boards are a great place to come and say what is going on and how your are feeling

I am out here if you have any questions or issues. I live in Eugene, and I went to Mexicali to Dr. Aceves 4 years ago and had Sleeve Surgery.

Take care,

Suzanne

Thank you for writing to me! I am still feeling hungry, but when I eat soup, it just doesn't feel good, even though there are not chunks in it. I am still dreaming of chicken and shrimp. I had a protein shake today and that was fine, but took a long time to drink it all. I have already lost 15 pounds, so that is really good. I have 110 to go. I just wonder what does eating feel like when you are all healed up? I am committed to eating healthy then, but does every bite hurt? I had the band for 5 years and every single bite hurt especially if it was something fibrous like an apple, carrot, salad, or just about any meat. So it got to the point where I ate a lot of soft foods. I still lost all my weight, but I really didn't know ahead of time that I would not be able to eat salad and other fruits and vegetables. I hear everyone saying that they can eat anything with the sleeve, but I wonder if that is really true. Are there things you just can't eat? I don't mind giving up bread or pasta, but I want to be able to eat all the healthy foods and meat. I don't mind giving up sweets at all. Can you tell me what a typical day of eating is like? Then I also heard that it takes about a month for the ghrelin to leave your system, so do you have to remind yourself to eat, or are you thinking about it all the time? Thank you for your response before and I look forward to hearing from you again. Lisa

I was sleeved on 9/17 and I am VERY interested in a physical meeting for vsg...I have so many questions and being around some people who many have shared the same experiences would be just great! My Name is Rachael and I live in Lake Oswego.

Hi Rachael-

My husband & I both had sleeve surgery at Legacy Good Sam with Valerie Halpin. We moved to MD 2 years ago but are moving back to Beaverton mid-November. Stay in touch & I'd love to meet you & share our experiences. My husband lost over 100 pounds & I lost 70 pounds & we are maintaining our goal weights & are so glad we had the surgery.

Take care,

Jan

Hey all!!! My name is Rachael and I was sleeved on 9/17.....I would love to have a meeting with others in the Portland metro area!!!! If anyone puts something together please let me know!!! That would be great! in the mean time I am on VIVOFIT under Rac8610 and I am of course on MFP under anewlife4me8610 and here on BP....please add me and lets get a monthly meeting started!!!!