Hey All. I am three weeks and three days post op. I have lost 20 pounds and for the past three days I have stalled in my weight loss. Has anyone else had this experience?

Also, I am so exhausted I sleep 12-16 hours a day. I can't even imagine how some of you went back to work after a week or so. I'm terrified going back to work at six weeks. I'm so scared to go back to my old ways and not eat what I need. I work a very high stress job where I am not able to sit or take many breaks. Now I'm just ranting but it would be nice to hear some experiences. My doctor hasn't been of much help.

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It's one of the most common questions I've seen here...

Look for a thread called "Embrace the Stall"...

It will answer all of your questions...

Well, not all of them...

But it's got this one covered...

Well done!!

Thank you! I honestly feel lost with all this. My doctor is like wham, bam, thank you mam! I get no help now that I had my surgery.

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Spend some time here...

Ask questions...

Out here or in PM...

The knowledge and experience around this site is invaluable...

Obviously, it's a lot of anecdotal advice and/or opinions...

But whatever you do, don't be afraid to ask...

Did you have your surgery on Jan 26th? If so, we are surgery sisters. Where did you have your surgery? Does your Dr not have a NUT on staff? My Dr gave us what he called our second Bible that described everything about the surgery, what the eating phases are when to get the labwork done etc. My PCP, Psych Dr and others were very impressed by the material my Dr provided.

I also lost 20 pounds in the first 11 days and have been stalled since Feb 6th. The thread mentioned above is a wonderful thread to read and will help you to understand what your body is going through. Please feel free to friend me and ask as many questions are you like.

I did! My doctor kinda sucks honestly. Maybe I'm just being pissy because I'm hating life but I get no help and have no idea who to talk to or go to for answers. You used a lot of abbreviations that I don't know. lol

I had it done through Bay Area Surgical. I'm suffering for the reputation of my surgeon... I picked an amazing surgeon he's just terrible with anything else.

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At my 2 week post appointment he said "ok I'll see you in three months."

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All I can say is it gets better. The fatigue improves as you can get more calories and your body adjusts. Stalls are frustrating, but if you follow your protein/nutrition guidelines you will lose weight!

I'm still on liquids so I'm hoping it gets better soon. If I try to eat anything else I get sick... I was not prepared enough for this and now I'm panicked.

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I'm 4 weeks post op today, surgery was January 21. I lost 18 pounds the first two weeks, then slowed to a crawl these last two weeks. Three pounds last week, two pounds this week. Still, down is down, but it feels like a stall by comparison.

My doctor performs a lot of sleeves and his office is very busy. When I see the doctor he is always very pleasant and thorough, and does not rush me out. On the other hand, if I have a question about something outside of my followup and I call the office, I usually get "You have a counselor and nutritionist, right? You should talk to them."

I have been more tired than usual, after work I find myself in front of the television or computer more than before, due to fatigue. I'm sure it will get better. I start soft foods today, so yay! Hopefully that means more energy.

I keep a food journal. Not an app, but a log I can actually write in, or scribble something that looks like words with a number next to it. I used to write in a journal, but I picked up the Biggest Loser spiral bound food journal and love it. It sits on my kitchen island and I fill it in at home. When I am out, I write what I eat on a piece of paper and stuff it in my pocket, then add it at home. That way I know what I am eating, and hold myself accountable. My nut recommended it, I have always done it when dieting, and I don't think I'll stop until I'm well into maintenance. I'm confident that as long as I am honest and keep a journal I will succeed.

These forums are helpful, and I keep going back to the stall post myself. I should probably print it and tape it to my desk.

I did! My doctor kinda sucks honestly. Maybe I'm just being pissy because I'm hating life but I get no help and have no idea who to talk to or go to for answers. You used a lot of abbreviations that I don't know. lol

I had it done through Bay Area Surgical. I'm suffering for the reputation of my surgeon... I picked an amazing surgeon he's just terrible with anything else.

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At my 2 week post appointment he said "ok I'll see you in three months."

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So sorry that your Dr and office aren't more helpful. I am a bit surprised you had a 2 week visit and was told see you in three months from now. You didn't mention if you had gotten any booklets from your Dr about what your suppose to eat and what lab work is suppose to be done and what Vitamins you should have? If your interested I would be willing to email with you and share what my Dr has me doing?

These forums are freaking me out. I feel like nobody has gone through what I'm going through. Not helping my anxiety. I have had no word on any labs or Vitamins. He just looked at me and said ok you're clear to start solids. I'm almost a month out and am still eating liquids and mush. The most solid food I can stomach is refried Beans with a little avocado and the occasional ritz cracker that's chewed to death. I get horrible stomach cramps and pain if I eat anything more than that. So I'm freaking out about starting back at work and I don't have any control of my food. I don't sit at all at work and generally log in 10k steps a day. I work retail and I cannot be off the floor to eat every hour.. My boss would flip and send me back out on leave. I have a sheet of paper with some food items on it and a diet plan of what to eat and when. Nothing very detailed.

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These forums are freaking me out. I feel like nobody has gone through what I'm going through. Not helping my anxiety. I have had no word on any labs or Vitamins. He just looked at me and said ok you're clear to start solids. I'm almost a month out and am still eating liquids and mush. The most solid food I can stomach is refried Beans with a little avocado and the occasional ritz cracker that's chewed to death. I get horrible stomach cramps and pain if I eat anything more than that. So I'm freaking out about starting back at work and I don't have any control of my food. I don't sit at all at work and generally log in 10k steps a day. I work retail and I cannot be off the floor to eat every hour.. My boss would flip and send me back out on leave. I have a sheet of paper with some food items on it and a diet plan of what to eat and when. Nothing very detailed.

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If you're thinking no one else had experienced what you are experiencing, your not reading enough here. Nothing sounds abnormal about what you're going through. Did you have labs drawn? If so review the result yourself, it's pretty easy to see if your numbers are in range, low or high. See anything concerning, ask your doc specifically since he didn't bring it up. Or ask here. If no lab were drawn, ask for them to be, if he days no, go to your pcp and see if they will order them for you. Take control of your healthcare, don't wait for the doc to direct you.

All because your doc said move to solids, doesn't mean you're ready. Progress through stages as you can tolerate them, but you have to try and incorporate solids. Can you keep a Protein shake with you on the floor at work? Drink that through the day and use your lunch/ breaks to try and get in a small amount if solid foods. And it sounds like you need to expand your diet a little. Early in my favorites were: Turkey meatball, mashed, in sauce with ricotta. Corned beef hash/ scrambled egg. sugar free puddings, Soups, etc.

I'm calling on Monday. I was freaked out at another post of all these people going back to work after a week or two and yet I'm still here at four weeks feeling like crap. Lol

As far as work, no I cannot have anything on the floor not even Water. Plus its just too busy and there's constantly something going on. As far as food goes I get really sharp pains if I try different things. I thought the world was coming to an end when I had a bite of salmon. I found a new Soup that is good that's about it. I need to give my stomach a break from trying new things.

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Sorry, not much of a boss not to allow you a little consideration of trying to have a water bottle to sip on or a snack every hour or two. Your body will be changing and you may be getting upset

stomach / diarhea, to deal with. I pride you in wanting to go to work and hopefully work will

show you the respect you need to have a good working environment. Your Company is lucky to have an employee as you trying to get in better health and coming to work as you are adapting to the

changes! Good luck to you and I hope work wakes up and appreciates you!

Re the exhaustion - I found for me personally on the days I did not get my protein in and my water, I felt very tired and lethargic. As soon as I upped my protein intake again and or the water I immediately felt better. If that doesn't work though make sure to discuss with your doctor

You and I are at the same phase. Each dr usually has a totally different program for you to follow. But since yours didn't seem to give you much directions maybe the following will help you so your not so freaked out. My Dr has me on 1 Bariatric multi Vitamin, B-12 tablets under the tongue, and Prilosec every day. More Vitamins will be introduced at 1 month and 3 months. I have to have labwork done at 1 month post op. Then 3, 6, 9, 12, 18, and 24 months. My Dr all ready gave me all the forms at to what is to be done each time for the labwork.

These forums are freaking me out. I feel like nobody has gone through what I'm going through. Not helping my anxiety. I have had no word on any labs or vitamins. He just looked at me and said ok you're clear to start solids. I'm almost a month out and am still eating liquids and mush. The most solid food I can stomach is refried Beans with a little avocado and the occasional ritz cracker that's chewed to death. I get horrible stomach cramps and pain if I eat anything more than that. So I'm freaking out about starting back at work and I don't have any control of my food. I don't sit at all at work and generally log in 10k steps a day. I work retail and I cannot be off the floor to eat every hour.. My boss would flip and send me back out on leave. I have a sheet of paper with some food items on it and a diet plan of what to eat and when. Nothing very detailed.


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This week I was told I can begin to eat cottage cheese, string cheese and other shredded like cheeses, sliced deli turkey, tuna and other light white fishes, soups like miso, bean, lentil, yogurt, egg, old fashion not instant oatmeal, Pam spray and light mayo plus at least 1 shake. I am averaging about 1/2 cup of cottage cheese or an egg, or 1/2 cup cooked oatmeal for Breakfast, 2 oz of turkey or fish, and 1/4 cup of refried beans for lunch and maybe an oz or 2 of turkey or fish and a cheese stick or maybe 1/4 cup of soup for dinner. A yogurt or premade shake or Protein powder with milk as a snack. So I am getting in the 60 Protein and calories are around 400 to 600. Tracking what you eat on myfitnesspal or some other website that has food and exercise trackers would be a good idea.

I get that same pain you are experiencing and when I do I stop eating as it is the signal that the tummy is full. You may not realize it but the tummy is only able to accept about 1/2 a cup at a meal. At this stage of the recovery protein should be about the only thing going in that tiny tummy. No drinking a half an hour before and after a meal. chicken, Calves Liver and non raw Vegetables and non pulp Fruit are to start at 6 weeks outs. Beef, Pork, Lamb, Ham etc can be tried at about 5 to 6 months out. Crackers, Pasta, potato, breads, rice etc is not to be eaten until 6 months out and then it is the last item on the plate and the smallest amount. I am to drink 64 ounces of Water, crystal light, powerade zero a day. coffee and Tea is not allowed until 2 months post op.

As for your not being allowed to eat or drink on the store floor, I find that to be extremely harsh. I don't know if you told your bosses at work about the surgery but it might be a good idea to get some kind of notice from your PCP that states you must stay hydrated and need to have your bottle of water with you on the floor otherwise you will be out of work again and back in the hospital because of dehydration.

Dhrguru gave you some good advise. You have to be an advocate for yourself if your surgeon dropped the ball. Get your PCP to order the lab work and provide you with a Bariatric Nutritionist. Order the Big Sleeve Book from this site. It is filled with lots of wonderful info that may reduce your stress and make this time of recovery a bit more pleasant for you.

The offer to support and encourage each other through email is still available to you. Hopefully you will start feeling better as you increase your protein and water. Good luck!