Hi folks:

I'm a 58-year-old native Oklahoman and adopted Texan (I married one.) I had my laporascopic gastric sleeve surgery Dec. 27, with Dr. Gregory Walton of WeightWise in Edmond, Okla. So far it's gone great, except for that pesky little problem about no weight loss.

I'm 5'6" and my pre-op highest weight was 273 pounds -- the day of surgery I was and am at 256 pounds. I realize there is still some swelling, but I would have thought the losing would have started before now. It makes me a little concerned, because I've been following guidelines to the letter.

I made the decision to have WLS because I have REM-related sleep apnea, high blood pressure, rotten old knees that I'm told need replacing, and fatique. I think the straw was when I couldn't get my rings off and I also couldn't wipe important parts (excuse the graphic nature of that comment.)

The doc has taken me off HCTZ for six weeks after surgery, but left me with taking Benicar (both blood pressure meds.) He said he was concerned the HCTZ could cause me to be more dehydrated. I'm sipping fluids like crazy.

The CCWriter btw, is an old reference to the song CC Rider, because my maiden name initials are CC and I'm a freelance writer. Here are some lyrics: "Well now see, C.C. Rider, Well now see what you have done." It was recorded by greats like Fats Domino, Elvis Presley, Animals, Chuck Willis and the Grateful Dead, and references an ungrateful lover.

And the pic is a weight I'd like to see again in the not too distant future. I was in my late 20s at the time and trying to channel coolness. My brother snapped that of me photo posing at the Ranch-O-Tel in Wetumka, Okla. along State Hwy 9 (it's no longer there.) I always thought it had kind of a Last Picture Show, Larry McMurtry vibe about it.

I'm so glad I found this forum and am looking forward to sharing our stories.

Best,

CC

if you are off track, just get back on as soon as you can... if you are doing everything right, then hang in there, the little stall will pass.

You will drive yourself nuts if you worry about weight loss every day. Keep to your plan no matter what the scale says. You were probably given lots of IV fluids during surgery and your body is holding on to them--don't you feel swollen? Your body will adapt and the scale will fall...many many times until you reach goal. After the initial, dramatic loss of the first month (which you are waiting for) most of us lose in stairsteps--a loss, then a few days of no losses, then another loss. Don't worry--it will come off.

You will drive yourself nuts if you worry about weight loss every day. Keep to your plan no matter what the scale says. You were probably given lots of IV fluids during surgery and your body is holding on to them--don't you feel swollen? Your body will adapt and the scale will fall...many many times until you reach goal. After the initial, dramatic loss of the first month (which you are waiting for) most of us lose in stairsteps--a loss, then a few days of no losses, then another loss. Don't worry--it will come off.

Thanks Fox and ... too late, I'm already nuts. But hopefully a good kind of nuts.

I do feel swollen. I guess I just expected too much in the very beginning. You read all these people saying they "lost 12 pounds in the first two weeks" or other amounts that sound wonderful to me and I'm just so ready to get this show on the road.

A police chief I used to know told me not to pray for patience, because God would give you some reasons to really need some.

Ready to rock-n-roll ...

CC

CC, cut yourself some slack. Dec 27? That's just 4 days. It will happen. i weighed the same when I left the hospital after 3 days as when I checked in, but the weight started coming off. Don't worry...just keep your Protein intake up and your fluids going in. I really had no problems getting anything in post op. Hopefully you will have no problems either.

I am a native Okie too...lived in OKC all my life (except for 11 months in Dallas when i was 7 y/o.) It was the hottest summer on record then and I still remember it and the huge jack rabbit in the back yard. It wasn't quite so urban then. I was self-pay in Mexicali and it was an exceptional experience. Would recommend it to anyone.

Welcome to the forum. You will find all kinds of support and information here. Happy trails...Kathe

PS: My ticker is way out of date, but I have been in a long stall and pretty much ate a taste of all the holiday stuff I wanted without any gain. Absolutely amazing to think that when I have reached my final goal weight I should have no problem maintaining and enjoying food without the pain of obesity. Yeah, VSG!!!

I had mine on the 28th and i have actually gained weight. I chalk it up to water retention. Hopefully this isnt a sign of things to come! I addume my body is just totally freaking out right now. Hang in there!

If you were taking and diuretic and have stopped, then of course your body is retaining water. This might be a good thing considering the decrease in water intake after surgery due to stomach swelling. Be patience and good things will happen to you, like weight melting away! It will happen, this is the BIG LOSER'S club. Happy New Year! the new you is about to jump out!

CC, you were on some pretty strong meds, and your body has to adjust. I gained weight in the hospital, and almost cried when I got home. Once your body adjusts fluid and electrolyte levels, you're going to see a change. Your meds may make stalls more common. You will still be losing fat. Maybe a tape measure would be better at this stage than a scale?

I weighed 8 lbs more the day I came home (post op day 2) and then one day in the first week it just magically disappeared. I know it's hard not to step on the scale everyday...but TRY not to!! The scale can be your worst enemy sometimes....don't let it determine how you're doing!!! You very well may be holding onto liquids you received in the hospital and you've got to give your body time to heal.

Hang in there and WALK, WALK, WALK!!!!!!....it REALLY helps!!!!

I weighed 8 lbs more the day I came home (post op day 2) and then one day in the first week it just magically disappeared. I know it's hard not to step on the scale everyday...but TRY not to!! The scale can be your worst enemy sometimes....don't let it determine how you're doing!!! You very well may be holding onto liquids you received in the hospital and you've got to give your body time to heal.

Hang in there and WALK, WALK, WALK!!!!!!....it REALLY helps!!!!

oh and make sure you measure yourself early on... now...... if you haven't already... you will lose inches at a different rate than pounds... sometimes the scales say the same thing, the tape says you lose....

Thank you guys so much. I feel a whole lot better about it. For some reason, I expected to be the marvelous melting woman from Day One. Feedyoureye and Bionic Broad, I will definitely be measuring at least once a week. Lisa, I'm definitely walking like crazy.

I love it -- the Big LOSER'S Group!! And I appreciate everyone's compassion and sensitivity. It's hard when you put your life out there, trying to make a life-saving decision but not knowing if you are doing the right thing. This helps a lot.

Best,

Carol

My opinion is that its all the fluids they pump into you before/during/after surgery and your body's natural reaction to surgery. I heard it put this way "all your body really knows is that it was attacked by knives. It doesn't know the purpose behind it. So now its processing everything in healing mode. This is very different for us cuz people don't usually walk around in a constant state of healing mode". Your body will figure it out as it finds its way to homeostasis. You will drop weight, I promise. I'm 2 months post op today and have lost 38#. I had a long stall at 3 wks, which everyone does so be ready for it, but wt loss picked up. I've had other wk long stalls but they always break and I dropped wt. Meanwhile I'm always losing inches. Seriously keep track of inches. It will blow your mind. Big hugs!

Thanks Lisa!! Especially loved the "all your body knows is that it was attacked by knives" quote.

I got up this morning and a whopping five pounds was gone. Woo hoo and exhale. I don't look any different. I don't feel any different. But there you have it. Sure was a mental boost though -- I have to say I'm smiling a whole lot more today. I know that won't happen everyday, but it did today and I'm thankful.

CC

CC, try not to get discouraged! Weight loss happens at a different rate for everybody. Some days I will adhere to my eating plan exactly, and the next day I will have gained a half pound or a pound. Then there are days when I eat like I know I should NOT, and the next day, I have lost a pound and a half! I can not make sense out of it, so I just try very hard to adhere to my eating plan and not come down to hard on myself when I fall off a little bit.

I noticed a weight loss immediately after I got home from the surgery, but didn't see my clothes getting bigger on me. In fact, I went almost two months before I noticed that I had to adjust the size of clothing I was wearing! I began to think that all my weight loss was in my fingers (my rings were loose) and feet (my shoes were loose). Then all of a sudden, everything started to look REALLY loose. So, don't get to caught up in numbers or sizes (although I have to admit, I LOVE to say, 'I wear a size 8"), or whatever. Stay on your eating plan (the one you surgeon recommended) and concentrate on walking and increasing your exercise a little. I was living in California immediately after my surgery, and I started swimming laps about three weeks after my surgery. I swam all summer, and in additon to feeling great after my swims, it was an exercise that didn't load my joints (my knees hurt too sometimes, and I had a hop replacement 15 years ago and probably need to have it revised soon), so was pretty painless, but still a good aerobic workout. (If walking bothers your knees, try swimming.) Best of luck to you! Keep us posted!

Hi CC, First, welcome. second please except my apology in advance for being the world's worst typist. I was sleeved on. Dec 28th and know that I must weigh more since leaving the hospital. They took away my HCTZ and pumped me full of fluids. I also had some blood sugar issues while in the hospital and was given insulin. I could barely bend my fingers they looked like little sausages.

I vowed not to weigh myself until my first Dr's appointment on the 11th. Give your scale to a friend to hold on to and don' t drive yourself crazy.

Right now you need to heal, learn your new eating and drinking regiments and don't need the added stress of worrying about your weight. It will come off, I've been lurking in here a long time and haven't seen a single complaint of the weight not coming off.

There are complaints of stalls, but that happens with regular dieting. I only lost 5.8 lbs on my pre-op liquid diet. I read that some lose 15-20 lbs, but it was significant for me, a typical dieting and exercise program of 2 hours a day working out only brought me a 2 lb a week reward.

This is the rest of our healthier lives and we are a little older than most here, that changes the playing field. Wishing you the best of luck!