SFOTraveler

To answer your questions: 1. I have yet to see anyone on here regret the choice to get sleeved... including myself!!!! 2. Pain is tolerable, and really varies, but mine stopped at about day 4 or 5 as someone else had mentioned. IT is surgery so of course there is some mild pain associated. 3. You don't give up everything but your body reacts differently to foods. My biggest challenge is eating slowly. I want to eat how I used to and with a sleeve all that means is a lump in your chest/throat where you feel like you can't breathe and ultimately means barf. The barf is different by the way.... you can see exactly what went in because nothing is digested. It has been super hard for me, but totally worth it. 4. As for drinking, I too was a gulper. I could drink 3-4 glasses of Water with dinner. I would drink about 48-64oz of diet pepsi a day MINIMUM. I just loved drinking and if it was carbonated, it was even better! Now I cannot drink even 1/4 as much as I used to, and like the food, if you drink too much too fast, up it comes. I find that eating or drinking while I am doing something else (even if it means working and eating my lunch then) it causes me to slow down and take my time so I don't get sick. Also, I have tried new things like flavored waters, crystal light, etc, to try to get some variety. I used to love love love plain water, and I don't any more Sometimes, but not usually. Lastly, to the woman who joked she was a cheap date.... I say the exact same thing!!!! I can't justify paying for a meal of my own when I eat about 5 bites and am done!

Hang in there, I too hit the dreaded 3 week stall, gained 2 or so lbs, and got stuck for EIGHT DAYS! Omg. I was so extremely frustrated and cried more that once. I checked this website every day for tips and even called my nutritionist. And ya know, all though all of that was supposed to make me feel better, I think that by the time I was done soliciting all the advice, my body was ready to lose again! Since that time, I have gone down about 20 lbs. And it just seems to be falling off. My best advice is stay positive, stay active, and keep up your Water and Protein and vitamins! You WILL succeed! hugs to you!

I also believe in the whole starvation mode theory, however I think that the bariatric surgery diets circumvent this because you are getting in high Protein, which in essence, is still feeding your muscles. That's my thought anyway. My doc recommended 6-800 cals a day in the losing phase. I do not log what I eat because quite simply, I can't eat much, and I don't eat anything super high calorie anymore. I figure that I stay within my range each day. But like Irene, I am finding that when I shake things up a bit (last night I went to dinner for my bday and nibbled on restaurant food which I am sure was high in calories) and I woke up this morning 2lbs lighter. WEIRd!!!!

I have told everyone in my life with the exception of 2 people : my boss, and 1 of my coworkers. Everyone else knows the truth. My boss and coworker know that I had surgery but they think that I am just on a very strict diet, per doctor's orders. It's hard not to notice when all I could eat or drink was liquids and purees for awhile. I work in the hospitality industry to I attend a lot of luncheons and formal dinners so hard to hide how much you eat. Now for the other 99% of friends and family and coworkers, I have a blog, that I post on my facebook, and although I was slightly worried about what some of them might think, I get so much positive feedback and people saying "keep blogging, i love it!" that it really keeps me motivated The one thing that bugs the you know what out of me is when people (especially people close to me) that call the surgery gastric bypass. I wanna scream, ITS NOT GASTRIC BYPASS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! So different and I made my decision because of that fact!

I am in my late 20s and I wish I would have done it sooner! I struggled with so many insecurities throughout the prime years of my life and I literally cried yesterday because I was so grateful to have been able to get the surgery. It hasn't always been easy (I am about 6 weeks out, so the not fun part!) but it is amazing what the surgery has done for me and I can only imagine a year from now how I will be feeling. DEFINITELY DO IT!!!! I remind myself every time I have a stall of weightloss that no matter how long it takes me, it is still much faster than I could ever lose on my own, and in addition, it is not nearly as stressful/depressing. In fact, it is positive, rather than negative (think a diet without constantly feeling deprived) and I couldn't be happier Good luck to you!

I didn't have one for the sleeve surgery, which was great because I was also nervous about it, but I did have an epidural for childbirth and had to get a catheter then. The worst part was knowing what they were doing, even though I couldn't feel any of it. I think it is much more of a mental thing. Also taking it out didn't hurt at all. Just slid out. And at that point I had feeling down below.

ITA with the staying positive!!!! I hit that stall BIG TIME (8 days) and was getting really discouraged. Then my clothes were huge, and all of the sudden the scale started moving again, and it hasn't stalled since!!! Hang in there, it is all worth it!

Hang in there... that scale will move again! I am down 31 lbs and was sleeved on 12/28. I can only dream of being down 65lbs 4 months out!!!! Also, I totally agree with everyone else about shaking up your routine

I have been throwing up after almost every meal that involves solids. I know I tend to eat faster, but I am wondering if something is wrong with me???? Any thoughts or experiences? I throw up at least once a day, most often more.

Mine got REALLY itchy and I ended up in the doc's office bc one was super red and the others not but my entire stomach itched like CRAZY!!!! He said it was a) lack of oils in my skin bc of the diet change and the glue he used in lieu of stitches. Hope you feel better ASAP!

My advice is just stay positive, stay focused, and stick to the plan your doc prescribed. I was stalled for about 8 days and getting SO frustrated. And then I decided to really truly focus on getting in enough fluids and Protein and BAM! I have lost 5 more lbs in about 5 days or so. Also I fully believe that the body loses and then kind of takes a break to recalibrate before we lose again. I also remind myself that the one time I lost 30 lbs I was working out furiously for 4-6 months and also watching what I ate. Now I do stay on a somewhat strict diet thank to the sleeve and needing protein and a certain amt of Water, but my exercise is simply walking. It's apparently enough to make the weight come off and I am happy with that!

I am barely a month out and have been having this feeling as well. I definitely don't feel like I have lost all hunger and have to "force" myself to eat. There are times during the day that I get extremely hungry. And then in the evening, around 8-10 as you have described, I definitely want to nibble. Bad bad bad habit

Just wanted to say hang in there!!!! I hit the DREADED and LONG 3 week stall (about 8 days) and it finally broke and I am now back to the same quick loss as right after surgery. Hang in there and stay positive. The favorite mantra was "we HAVE to lose weight... we're only consuming 600 cals per day!"

That is awesome! Ihaven't been a size 6 since HS!

Thank you for posting this thread! I am on 9 or 10 days and really kind of in the dumps about it. I know I need to eat less carbs bc I have been drinking Myoplex which in itself has 19g of carbs. Had a talk with the nutritionist today and she just said the same old... up the protein and water and lower the carbs.

I was sleeved 12/28 and have lost 20lbs total. I haven't lost anything in a week or so. Pretty crappy feeling. I am making a conscious effort to drink a lot more water and see if that helps. I was doing so well at the beginning so I am sad to see such a long stall.

I am going to have to check this kind out! That is a REALLY good carb/protein ratio!

Oh just wanted to add that his office recommends 6-800 cals a day.

He told me 50 lbs in 3 months and I am stuck at 20 thus far... not sure how the other 30 are going to "fall off". He also said that I should expect 100 in 9-12 months if I stick with the diet plan etc. I need to figure out how to get exercise in more. I work full time and have 2 little ones (age 1 and 3) and it is cold as hell so I can't exactly take them on a walk! Anxiously awaiting the OK to lift and do other stuff. I was 245 when I weighed in at his office and 239 the day of surgery.

I am 27 (turn 28 in Feb) and am so glad that I didn't wait any longer. Lots more years to enjoy!!!!

So I weighed myself about 3-4 days ago and I was at 224.4. My diet has not changed. Maybe I have consumed slightly less Water or Protein but for the most part... it has been protein supplements and water. I weighed myself yesterday and I was at 226.8. REALLY?! How the hell is this possible? Someone please explain or help or whatever because I really am stumped and frustrated. The only thing I can think is if I am consuming not enough calories (I Know I am not but I don't know how to get more in when I am supposed to have 3 2oz meals and no Snacks and just protein drinks). My total daily is around 400ish. And I get in 50-60g of protein. And on avg 40oz water (I know I need more, but it is so hard!). Thanks in advance for any advice or info.

I didn't have a catheter. They asked me to pee right before going into the OR. I was really surprised at no catheter bc everyone else I know who has had the surgery has had one but as you can imagine I was thrilled to not. I think it is just a surgeon by surgeon thing, but you might want to ask. Apparently it is not necessary!

I was told to take Tums while my stomach heals and then about a month out to switch to Calcium Citrate. No need to get worked up, maybe just explain why a certain type of calcium is best.

I love the "I'd leave you fat so stop being insecure". Sometimes they need to hear that kind of harsh reality to get it!!! Good way to put it!

I have had the mirena since 8/09 and haven't had any problems or weight gain issues... at least none that I can directly attribute to it!!!! I love it. I don't ever think about it. I don't feel the strings, and from what I know, my SO can't either. Definitely keeping it in til '14.