GreenEyedMamma

I hit my stall around the same time. I adjusted my diet (lowered my carb intake to less than 30 grams a day) and increased my water intake dramatically to 80-96 ounces of day. That got things moving and they haven't stopped. I have been averaging about 15 pounds a month.

I had similar pains but in a different area. I thought my appendix had burst. Turned out to be deferred pain from my drain (which was no where near the location of my pain). My surgeon said that sometimes in the healing process your body will defer the pain to the another area. When they removed my drain (which was threaded to the left) I felt all the pain on the right. It was odd. Hopefully your body is just deferring the pains of healing to your back.

When I first started eating mushy solids, I was eating around 75 grams of carbs a day (darn potatoes) and the weight wasn't coming off like I had been reading about. I did a lot of research on carbs and Water intake. I adjusted my diet to reduce my carbs to less than 30 grams a day (most days is less than 20) and increased the water intake dramatically (between 80 and 96 ounces a day). I have kept my Proteins quite high (between 80 and 100 grams). Within days of doing this the weight started coming off more quickly. I do have days where I take in around 50 grams of carbs but the majority of those extra carbs come in my Breakfast (greek yogurt) so I can burn them off throughout the day. I try to avoid carbs after 5pm. Don't waste the space in your tiny tummy with useless foods that don't do your body any good. I did discover about a month ago that if I ate bad carbs (anything not healthy i.e. chips or a cookie) my brain wanted more carbs and I battled head hunger. I am learning how to balance my diet now so I can have a long and healthy life without fear of gaining the weight back. Our WLS experiences are all different and you have to find what works for you. Once you do, stick with it.

Try Egg Beaters and low-fat cottage cheese. Agree with others on mixing protein powder into pudding, greek yogurt, and oatmeal. I used Vanilla Ice Cream protein powder and it adds a nice flavor. If you are able to eat canned meats, Albacore Tuna has a good amount of protein.

I felt the same way. I hit my first stall at 2 weeks post-op and didn't lose anything for nearly two weeks. I looked at my diet and reduced my carb intake (won't take in more than 25 grams a day) and increased the Water dramatically (72-96 ounces a day). The weight started to come off again. That was a little more than a week ago. TODAY, I went in for a second follow-up appointment with my surgeon. I was worried because I hit my stall right after my first follow-up and had only lost 7 pounds (all of which came off in the past week and a half) in the last three weeks. They have this magical scale that tells you not only how much body fat and excess Fluid you have but also how much muscle you have. My doctor came in and I thought she was going to be disappointed but she was very happy. She said "You are doing GREAT". I was like "yeah, right". Then she said "I know you have only seen your scale drop 7 pounds since your last weigh-in but you actually lost 16 pounds of body fat and gained 9 pounds of muscle". She was VERY impressed with that. So even though your scale at home might be telling you that you are losing slowly, your body could be actually dropping the fat and bulking up the muscle. I am happy that I am losing at a slower rate because my skin won't be as loose in the end. Keep your chin up!

I am assuming since this was posted in November that these have already been donated. If not...I live in Bakersfield and will take em.

Once you get your drain out you will feel 100 times better. I had similar feelings about myself until they pulled that little snake out of my belly. Literally, as soon as they pulled it out I felt GREAT. I know what you mean about the food smells. I am one month post-op today and have gotten over my insecurities around food. Went to a steakhouse for my son's birthday dinner and wasn't tempted to take a bite of anyone's plate. It was stinkin' amazing. Good luck with your progress. Once you get the drain out you will feel so much better.

I try to get in 96 ounces of Water per day. Yes, that is A LOT of water but I get most of it in. I hit my first stall a few weeks ago and read an article about water and metabolism. There is proven data out there that indicates if you drink 80 ounces of water a day, you can increase your metabolism by 30%. I drink out of a 24oz. bottle and I fill it four times a day (2-3 at work and 1 last one right before I go to bed). I drink plain ice cold water but I will add a packet of Crystal Light to at least one bottle a day if I am struggling with the "no-taste" thing. So far so good, because as soon as I started drinking more water my stall ended. I have lost 7 pounds since last Thursday (when I started drinking more). I stopped drinking tea and coffee during my pre-op stage and since they are dehydrating beverages I haven't touched them since. Nothing can beat water but I did read that milk counts as water too. You just have to watch the carbs and calories if you choose to drink a lot of it. I drink non-fat milk but it still packs in 13 carbs per 8 ounces.

Give her a taste of her own medicine. When her birthday comes around, give HER a yogurt while you enjoy a very small piece of angel food cake (or some other sugar-free dessert) in front of her. Go over the top and put a candle in her yogurt too.

I had the same problem with my third week except I didn't lose anything and I even gained two pounds in that third week. I read an article somewhere that said if you increase your Water intake by 16 ounces more than the daily recommended 64 ounces for a total of 80 per day, you can increase your metabolism by 30%. I started this (along with lowering my carb intake from the 40's to the 20's) and in four days I dropped four pounds (the two pounds I had gained plus two more). That was just last week. I feel like I am in the bathroom all the time but I'll do whatever to keep the scale moving down.

I love both Dannon and Yoplait Vanilla greek yogurt. Both are fat free. Yoplait has a higher carb and Protein count than Dannon. It appears that the more the flavor, the higher the carb. count. I prefer the Dannon Vanilla over the Yoplait though. http://www.dannon.com/greek/default.aspx http://www.yoplait.com/products/yoplait-greek-yogurt?WT.mc_id=Paid_Search_Brands_YPT_Greek&WT.srch=1 Another brand I eat occasionally is Atheno's. Their Peach Greek Yogurt is really good too. Not as much protein as the others. http://www.athenos.com/products.aspx Trader Joe's carries more traditional Greek Yogurt which has a little texture to it. Plain Greek yogurt is just nasty but like someone else above mentioned, you can mix in flavored Protein Powder (it will change the consistency of the yogurt but at least it adds flavor).

We share the same story as well. Overweight my entire life. I started this journey at 336.6 pounds. Day of surgery I was 325.6 pounds. I have lost a total of 25 pounds in a month (14 since surgery). You will love your sleeve and what a blessing to be doing this with your sister. Good luck with your journey and I pray for a complication-free procedure and that you and your sister recover quickly.

Don't get discouraged. That will give you more time to read this forum and prepare for your life changing adventure. Good luck to you and your journey. You'll love it. The sleeve ROCKS!!!

Congrats! I say go for the sleeve. I was hesitant about it when I met with my surgeon at first but after I started reading this site I was convinced that it was the thing for me. I was sleeved three weeks ago and I couldn't be more happier. Continue to read the posts here and do your research but I think you will find that this particular surgery is the way to go. Good luck to you!

I think my turning point was on day 4 or 5. I didn't have neck pain but I had severe pain in my left shoulder from the gas used during surgery. Once that pain subsided and I got to walking about the house more I started to feel better. Be sure to drink (sip) lots of Water and try to drink a Protein shake. I had a drain and once that came out a week after surgery I felt 200 times better. OH - warning on the liquid hydrocodone. Try no to rely on it too much throughout the day because it can constipate you and that can make you even more uncomfortable. I took it two or three times a day for the first four days and then stopped. Hang in there. You'll start to feel better soon.

I had my gallbladder out 8 years ago. With that surgery I had three incisions and all were very small. I did not have a drain and was able to go home the same day. With my sleeve, I had five incisions, all but one were quite small and the other (the one they actually remove the stomach from) was only about 1.5". I had a drain, which I consider the 5th incision, but not everyone gets a drain. The recovery period for this surgery is a bit longer than with gallbladder but then again, everyone tolerates pain differently. I had shoulder pain with both surgeries but this one was a bit more intense than my last four surgeries. I had a difficult time with my drain but once it was removed I felt GREAT. I had a hysterectomy 8 years ago also and the sleeve is nothing compared to that.

Wow, your pre-op diet is nice. Mine was full liquids for two weeks. Nothing but Protein shakes, crystal light, only greek yogurt and that was only every few days, sugar free popcicles and sugar free pudding. I am VERY glad I did it though because it made a HUGE difference after surgery. I got all of my withdrawls out of the way within the first four days of the pre-op diet. Since you will be on liquids for a minimum of one week (some surgeons require two or more) before you are allowed mushies the liquid diet before surgery makes a nice transition. Once you get past the first four or five days things are much easier. Just stick to it. I found the afternoons were much harder than any other time of the day so I chewed a TON of gum and had to shake up my routine at work. You can do it! Congrats on your upcoming surgery. You will not regret it at all. You'll look back on the two weeks you were on the pre-op diet and think nothing of them.

I hit my first stall as well and I was sleeved on 2/24. It is frustrating. I am following my diet plan and am getting exercise. I even wear ankle weights at work to give me a little something extra throughout the day while I walk about the office. I am getting in around 850-900 calories per day and about 100 grams of Protein. I need to lower my carbs as I am currently getting in around 45-50 but they are good carbs and not bad. I will try and lower to get below 40. I also know I need to drink more Water during the day (not at night before I go to bed) and I read somewhere that if you drink 16 more ounces of water per day than the recommended 64 (for a total of 80) that can increase your metabolism by 30%. That is a TON of water but I am going to try it. Regardless of our frustration, I know we'll ge the scales moving again soon...and in the right direction.

I use FatSecret too and love it. I have it on my phone and my iPad. I am a barcode scanner geek too. Since I can access it anywhere, I have no excuse for not entering my food intake. On FatSecret I have tracked my entire process starting from my first weigh-in at my surgical consult. I track my progress through a ticker on LilySlim and I am only tracking my weight loss since surgery. I want others to see only what the sleeve has done for me. As far as the scale goes, I tossed the old one and purchased a new one. The new one is digital and it tracks up to four people. It also gives you your BMI and your percentage lost. I tested the accuracy between it and my surgeons office and it is spot on. It is made by Health O Meter and I picked it up at Wal-Mart for $40. I never thought I would EVER say this but... I love my new scale.

I had to lose the same in a two week period. It is really doable as long as you stick to your liquids. Keep it very low in carbs and remember to drink your Water too. If you choose broth, choose a very low sodium broth so your body doesn't hold onto the salt and make you retain water. I chewed A LOT of gum to help with cravings. It is hard but the payoff is well worth it. I am only a little over a week post-op and I don't regret anything. Use this time as a good learning tool for recovery as well as a stepping stone for a new relationship with food. Good luck with everything. You'll do great.

I started my journey weighing the same as you. I was just sleeved LAST Thursday (24th). Me and my family go to Disneyland ALL the time (we live nearby) and we went to Disney World last year. I didn't have a problem fitting on ANY ride (even at 336 pounds). I don't like rollercoasters so I didn't go on Rockin' Roller Coaster but I did brave Expedition Everest and I didn't have any issues with fitting (even though I thought for sure I was going to have an issue). I carry my weight in my behind and thighs which makes rides a little snug but I was able to do everything I wanted. Have fun! My husband and I are heading back to World this September and I am so excited that I will be much smaller this time around and my knees won't hurt so much after walking all day long. Enjoy yourself!!! Dawn

I had this issue until I started to eat more food with substance (which wasn't until yesterday). I completely understand about sitting on the toilet for passing gas. Things will "bulk up" soon.

I will get it when I drink or eat to quickly. Some days I just forget to slow down. I eat with a baby spoon so I can make sure to take small bites. I take at least 1/2 an hour to eat 1/2 a cup of anything. Although tonight it took me more than an hour to get my oatmeal down. I do find it hard to eat slower but I would rather take the time to train myself how to be patient with food so I have a successful result in the end (a better relationship and understanding between me and food).

I am on the west coast (California) and I paid $10,250 plus the surgeon's fee of $4,000. I found that most surgeons have package deals with local hospitals and surgery centers. If you can find a doc that will do it at a surgery center the cost is cheaper. Good luck to you and let me know if you have questions. Dawn

I had a drain too. It was supposed to stay in for two weeks but it was removed on the 7th day. The drain actually threads to the left of your abdomen and sits behind your spleen so it makes sense that you have pain on the left side. I actually had the opposite feeling and felt it on the right. My doc said some people feel the deferred pain on the right. Even when they took it out, I knew it was coming from the left but I felt all of the movements on the right. It was very odd. My doc gives all his patients a drain because it helps reduce the risk of infection. Once my drain fluids were pretty clear they took it out and I felt 200 times better. I was just sleeved on the 24th and I feel fantastic now. Good luck to both of you guys on your recovery. We are all just days apart. Dawn