Hi everyone,

I’ve been a long time reader of this forum, but a first time writer ?.

Today marks 5 months since I had the gastric sleeve and I thought I would share my journey so far. While I was prepping for the surgery, these posts helped me so much so maybe my story can help some people too.

I was 310 lbs during my first meeting with my doctor. I didnt have to do a pre-op diet but between my first meeting and surgery, I lost 10 lbs so I was down to 300 lbs day of surgery. I weighed in today, and I am currently 210 lbs. I can’t even process it, I havent ever been this weight during my adult life.

My surgery went very well, but I did have alot of complications after the surgery. You know how you read about them but never think it will actually happen to you.. well it happened to me haha. I was good for about a week after surgery, and then I got a kidney stone. Of course I automatically assumed something was going on with my sleeve because of my symptoms ( neausea, stomach pain, vomiting etc), ended up going to the ER after two days and it turned out to be a kidney stone. I also became dehydrated during this time because I couldn’t keep anything down. They didn’t admit me that day and I passed the stone but I was constantly throwing up and my stomach pretty much became irritated and inflamed. This lead to a vicious cycle of constantly trying to take in fluids but not being able to keep it down at all. I went through about a week of hell - would wake up neausous, throw up the entire day and go to sleep neausous. Neausea meds didn’t help, I couldnt even get them down because any sip of water would make me neusous. Eventually, I became super weak, my hands and feet started cramping up and honestly I felt like crap, regretted my decision to have this surgery. I was admitted to the hospital - my heart rate and bp were super low, my liver was getting messed up and I was beyond dehydrated. I stayed in the hospital for about 5 days and left feeling much better. hindsight, I should have gone to the doctor / hospital earlier...

Since then, I have been feeling great! Its definitely an adjustment and some days are harder than others but so worth it! Even with all the complications I had starting out, I would go through with the surgery again in a heart beat. My life has changed because of it.

I’m fairly young - 30 years old - and I had high blood pressure. My blood pressure is now normal. My knees don’t hurt anymore when I walk. I can keep up with friends. I have so much energy now. Its crazy but I didn’t realize how sluggish and tired I felt until I started not feeling that way..

My quality of life has improved so much and I am no where near done yet. I’m so grateful for my tool. Like everyone says, wls is definitely not the easy way out. I put in work physically and emotionally everyday. I work out 5 times a week and eat clean. Changing my mindset amd emotional attachment to food is a process. But I couldn’t have done it without the surgery for sure.

Anyway sorry for the long post! But like I said reading about others’ experiences was so helpful to me so I figured I would share just incase others find it helpful as well.

Congratulations!

I hope you continue to make your goals and post!

Congrats

Sorry about the complications, but it sounds like you're okay now. Wow, what a huge weight loss so quickly! Congrats and good luck on the rest of your weight loss journey. I'm in it for the long haul.

1 hour ago, Nat88 said:

surgery went well, but I did have complications

@Nat88

wow - lots of ups and downs. but that is the truth behind WLS.

in the end, everything has worked out for you. 100 lbs down in 5 months!!!

keep up the good work for the rest of your healthier, happier, life

kathy

congrats

What an inspiring story. Congratulations! You went through a lot. But you also achieved a lot. Amazing.

Other hard journeys do not discourage me, instead I am inspired to keep on with my own bumpy journey, some are smooth like a log flume ride, some are like a twisting and turning amusement rollercoaster but we all seem to find our finish l8ne in the end, don't we??

4 hours ago, Nat88 said:

Hi everyone,

I’ve been a long time reader of this forum, but a first time writer ?.

Today marks 5 months since I had the gastric sleeve and I thought I would share my journey so far. While I was prepping for the surgery, these posts helped me so much so maybe my story can help some people too.

I was 310 lbs during my first meeting with my doctor. I didnt have to do a pre-op diet but between my first meeting and surgery, I lost 10 lbs so I was down to 300 lbs day of surgery. I weighed in today, and I am currently 210 lbs. I can’t even process it, I havent ever been this weight during my adult life.

My surgery went very well, but I did have alot of complications after the surgery. You know how you read about them but never think it will actually happen to you.. well it happened to me haha. I was good for about a week after surgery, and then I got a kidney stone. Of course I automatically assumed something was going on with my sleeve because of my symptoms ( neausea, stomach pain, vomiting etc), ended up going to the ER after two days and it turned out to be a kidney stone. I also became dehydrated during this time because I couldn’t keep anything down. They didn’t admit me that day and I passed the stone but I was constantly throwing up and my stomach pretty much became irritated and inflamed. This lead to a vicious cycle of constantly trying to take in fluids but not being able to keep it down at all. I went through about a week of hell - would wake up neausous, throw up the entire day and go to sleep neausous. Neausea meds didn’t help, I couldnt even get them down because any sip of Water would make me neusous. Eventually, I became super weak, my hands and feet started cramping up and honestly I felt like crap, regretted my decision to have this surgery. I was admitted to the hospital - my heart rate and bp were super low, my liver was getting messed up and I was beyond dehydrated. I stayed in the hospital for about 5 days and left feeling much better. hindsight, I should have gone to the doctor / hospital earlier...

Since then, I have been feeling great! Its definitely an adjustment and some days are harder than others but so worth it! Even with all the complications I had starting out, I would go through with the surgery again in a heart beat. My life has changed because of it.

I’m fairly young - 30 years old - and I had high blood pressure. My blood pressure is now normal. My knees don’t hurt anymore when I walk. I can keep up with friends. I have so much energy now. Its crazy but I didn’t realize how sluggish and tired I felt until I started not feeling that way..

My quality of life has improved so much and I am no where near done yet. I’m so grateful for my tool. Like everyone says, wls is definitely not the easy way out. I put in work physically and emotionally everyday. I work out 5 times a week and eat clean. Changing my mindset amd emotional attachment to food is a process. But I couldn’t have done it without the surgery for sure.

Anyway sorry for the long post! But like I said reading about others’ experiences was so helpful to me so I figured I would share just incase others find it helpful as well.

?Congratulations?

Holy cow! Thanks for sharing and welcome to coming out of lurkdom! Post often! Congrats on being 100lbs lighter and on getting control of things. So happy for you.

I certainly understand about being a lurker here, I barely post and when I do its either because I've hit a new milestone in my journey or I feel very strongly about something. I feel like I know the regular posters here, but just can't bring myself to comment nearly as much as most do.

I'm having my surgery in less than 3 weeks and I'm both nervous as heck and excited about the new lifestyle changes coming my way. I do not plan to waste this opportunity.

Thank you for sharing your story, its inspirational.

Thank you everyone!