happy1957

Hello, I am only 3 months post op and have been using Biotin for nearly a year and have not lost any hair as of yet. I am now converting to black currant suggestedby Dr Oz...check this older forum out. http://www.verticalsleevetalk.com/topic/28397-best-biotin/page__p__272334__hl__+black%20+currant__fromsearch__1#entry272334. Hope that works... If it doesn't, just put balck currant in the search button and few articles come up. Lots of interesting conversations. My sister is 8 months out and has not had any significant hair loss and has never used anything.

I feel your pain. I am a slow loser naturally. I don't mind losing just a one pound a week, but I had a stall at 3 weeks that lasted 3.5 weeks and then all of a sudden, four pounds fell off. I was doing everything right and we all know that you can not sustain your current weight with the amount of calories you're actually putting in. I came into this forum to lament to someone and got the encouragement I needed to stop stepping on the scale and it'll all work out if you stick to the program. I would not make the "Biggest Loser" show very long, but consistent loss and many, many inches are on my side. Remember this is a marathon not a sprint and going to bed at night knowing that you've done your best will reap rewards. Relax and enjoy the journey, I'm down about 27 lbs since my Dec surgery and just staring to get the compliments and really feeling the advantages of hauling around a few less lbs. It'll all work out for you.. The best of luck.

This post made me laugh right out loud. I was sleeved on Dec. 28th and had noticed that there are times that my tummy was loud and made noises resembling the birth of an alien being coming out through my flesh. What made me laugh was that just last night I was laying awake in bed in the middle of the night because it was warm, my cat was sleeping at the foot of the bed in a snoring state. My tummy made a very loud and long growling sound that woke her up and scared her off the bed, she sat up a moment, looked around and ran under the bed. I laughed about this all day and shared the story with my co-workers. I am happy to live with the unusual sounds as my life is already healthier and happier and can only continue to get better. Thanks for sharing...

I believe every physician is different.My Dr required a 2 week liquid only diet. I drank Protein shakes, creamed and tomato soups. I also put high protein soup like progresso in my Nija, but the texture turned me off and I hated eating them. I wasted a lot of money. I ate mostly tomato soups and truly stuck to the liquids. The more protein you eat, the better you'll feel and stay fuller for longer periods of time. I love Iso Pure Dutch Choclate. I had been drinking that for years for Breakfast, so I was used to it. I hate a thick, sweet Protein Drink. I was NOT allowed any protein bars etc. You can eat yogurt and I found just a few Greeks that I could tolerate, Cottage cheese was another option as was Jello and popsicles . You will be fine after the first three days. I actually started before my 2 weeks and had already converted breakfast and lunch to liquid.I believe it made it easier for me and having the yogurt or popcicles for Snacks . As far as Vitamins, my Dr required a Vitamin that ws chewable and had a minimum of 18 mgs of Iron, so Flintsone chewables were the only ones I could find, I took 2 daily, I am three months out and could convert to a regular Centrum Ultra, but find since I have to take my vitamins with food, I just don't have the room to take the pill with food and swallow it without Water or with a little water. You fill up pretty fast. So I still use the Flintstones which I've acquired a taste for. Make sure you take two of the same flavor at the same time. If you mix the colors YUCK! The best of luck to you.

I am only 3 months out, am a slow loser, but absolutely no regrets. I too have a relative who had 3/4's of his stomach removed 30 plus years ago and did fine. He was chunky prior to that and thinner and healthier after that. He eventually sucommed to colon cancer. No sure if there is a correlation to that since within months I lost another cousin to colon cancer, I know that your colon needs fiber so that's important to get it somehow. The best of luck to you.

I am happy that this questioned has been asked and appreciate the responses. . I too am a slow loser. I was prior to surgery and apparently always will be. I lost about 20lbs the first two months of surgery and about a 1 lb a week over the last 4 weeks, but I know that inches are disappearing and slow weight loss is better for you. I also had lost weight prior to surgery and although my surgeon says that you have to count that, it's difficult to tell those that ask how much weight you've lost, the real truth. I want to say just what I've lost since surgery. Overall it is disappointing when you come in here and or have friends who have had bypass surgery and the weight just fell off. I went into the Dec. sleevers group and the lowest weight loss I could find compared to my was still 21 lbs more! It's just a psychological issue. I worry that I will hit a wall early on and never lose any more. I actually would like to know if slow losers end up losing for a longer period of time, or do they seem to stop at a year as well (the one year mark my DR suggested) . Have a great day everyone!!

whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa Sleeved Dec 28th and down about 20lbs since surgery day, but had lost 5.5 lbs the prior 10 days on liquid diet. Slow loser, but headed down.. Hopefully it doesn't stop .. Congratulations to all of you!

Wow, compared to everyone else, I guess I am a slow loser, I have always been a slow loser, and won't worry unless the scale stops.

You ladies are doing GREAT! I had my sleeve on Dec. 28th, which makes 3 months today. My total weight loss since surgery is about 20 lbs, but with the liquid diet and pre-diet loss I am down about 36. I consider that half way there and am pleased so far. The last couple weeks have been 1 lb a week so I suspect I'm hitting the 3 month stall soon. :-) .I have no fears of really stretching my stomach. I have a sign of fullness before I actually feel it in my tummy. My nose begins sniffling. It's weird, but it's my sign. I also use the same dishes each meal. I Pampered Chef pre-bowl or a small six inch plate depending on the meal. This is a trick my Dr suggested. I'm usually full and happy. My biggest fear is learning to love and eat "slider" foods. The bad things which I have tried like tortilla chips and salsa, popcorn, cake etc. are easy to eat and don't fill you up. So I have that stuff sparingly. Usually one bite or fork full and I leave it alone. I am older, have a less weight to lose compared to so suspect my weight loss will be slower. You are both doing wonderful! keep up the good work and don't get discouraged when the scale doesn't move for awhile.

Good morning... You are losing weight, did you not say you have lost 9 lbs? That is an average of 4.5 lbs a week. I too have to lose a smaller amount of weight. Roughly 70lbs. Yes, 70 lbs is a lot. but, not hundreds. I lost 5.5 on my pre-surgery liquid diet and about 20lbs since my Dec 28, 2011 surgery. It sounds like a little compared to others in here, but, with the initial loss of 11lbs on my own, I am more than half way there. You don't want to lose to fast, it's better for your skin and for how others perceive you (not sick) . I had a 3.5 week stall at about 3 weeks. Now seem to be losing slow at about 1lb a week. I have NEVER lost this much weight in such a short period of time. Just do what you're suppose to and it will come off. I think I'm heading in to a 3 month stall now. I will be patient, if all holds true, this weight loss should be forever. I am so very happy that I had this done, not one minute of regret. In fact it seems like it's just part of who I am. I eat everything I want, never ever nauseous, never vomited and have NEVER had the slimes that others talk about. I do find that some foods sit heavy. I do my best to eat slow and that must be the key for me. I wish you luck, remember, you've nearly lost 10% already that is in a mere two weeks. Congratulations and keep doing what you're doing.

I don't feel the traditional full either. 99% of the time my nose feels weird and I get little sniffles. It's not like a cold or allergy sniffle, but just a little post nasal drip. That's my first sign, if I take just one more bite, I feel pressure of fullness. I've learned to just stop when I get the first sign. I have even told friends that I sound like a cocaine addict at meal time. This may sound like a weird indication, but it's the exact same thing for my sister who was sleeved before me. My Dr told me it's normal in most people, most people just aren't in tune with their body like we are because of the surgery. It's sort of like eating hot soup but less intense. I'd be curious to know if this happens to others. Good luck!!

Sorry to hear of your complication, but that is common risk with any surgery. Had you traveled a great distance to get your surgery? Even flying kills people. I recently saw where a family flew to Florida to Disney, the dad ended up getting a clot from the flight and died in his hotel room. You were smart enough to go get it checked out, so you should be on your road to recovery. The best of luck with your recovery. It'll all be worth it in the end.

I am just two months out, but had a 3.5 week stall at three weeks. I received much encouragement from VST and all the great people here. As was said to me, keep doing everything right and it will come off. I lost 4.5 lbs the next week once the stall broke and have lost some every week since. My doctor told me that losing weight with VSG is like standing on a step and waiting patiently for awhile, then jumping 2 or 3 steps at a time. That's exactly how it has felt for me. Good luck!.

Good day... I stalled at week three also, it lasted for 3.5 weeks. It's disheartening, but everyone here encouraged me to just keep doing all the right things and it would work out. I only weighed myself once a week for the first two weeks of the stall, but the next week and a half I weighed every day. I too would go up 2 lbs, then back down. I was getting depressed, but believe me, it will happen. I ended up losing 4.5 lbs overnight. In just three days actually. Since then, I have lost another 4-5 lbs a week for the past couple weeks. It is like standing on a set of steps, you wait and wait, but then jump three at time to catch up to others. Just keep doing what is right. Your body is just holding on to the solids because of the starvation mode it was in with liquids. Good luck to you.

Stage two in my post op book s liquids only. Although no longer clear like phase one . That includes protein drinks, creamed soups, yogurt, cottage cheese, diluted juice etc. I don't believe that cheese or anything chewable should be eaten in this stage. I was on this stage for two weeks pre and post surgery. I couldn't start mushies until after my two week follow up. I don't think I could have swallowed anything solid like cheese because of the swelling. I hope this helps and wish you the best of luck.

There seems to be an infamous three week stall. I personally just hit it and it lasted 3.5 weeks. Many supporters here had warned me and although you expect it, it makes you doubt if the sleeve is going to work for you. Keep doing what you're suppose to and your body will adapt and before you know, you will start losing. Eat your protein and lots of fluid and you will be rewarded. We all lose at different rates. For me it seemed the stall started when I went from liquids to solids. As if my body was in starvation mode and held on to everything I put in my mouth, once it realizes that you will continue to feed it, it let's go of the choke hold. This was a very depressing time for me, one night I just let it go emotionally on this very site and the next day I had lost. Good luck to you...

I am about 7 weeks out and have become really hungry over this last 2 weeks. I have read enough on here that in most cases you ned an acid reduction pill as many can not tell the difference between hunger and acid reflux. I already take omeprazole in the pm and occasionally will take one in the am. Yesterday was a hunger day, nothing I ate made me feel full until I had a cup of pop corn. I have a sister who is 4 months ahead of me and feels NO hunger at all, but she did say it was several weeks out before she felt that way. That your body has ghrelin stored in your fat cells and as you burn the fat, they resurface. Not sure but many also say if you don't drink enough fluids, same issue, you feel hungry. I hope this passes soon for both of us. Mine is only an occasional day, not everyday. The best of luck to you.

My insurance required the six month diet, but if I went through a "Center of Excellence" bariatric center, they accepted a 3 month diet with a certain amount of nutrition classes. See if your insurance company has that lope hole .The best of luck to you.

I'm not yet three months out, but there hasn't been one thing that I have put in my mouth that I can't tolerate. As you worry about not getting enough variety, I worry about being to able to eat everything. I would say that your problem could be more emotional than physical since it begins when you put it into your mouth. With dense Protein like chicken and beef you are unable to eat as much, but eaten slowly with the 30 minute wait after Water, it still goes down easily and no digestion issues. Do you make sure that it's at least 30 minutes after drinking before you eat and that you are not drinking with meals?

OMG, enjoy it while you can! LOL Keep it at home and it'll be soooooooooooo healthy for you. I'm sorry to say that i have no experience with this, so no words of wisdom. Just have fun, don't make it another source of stress. Think of it as a really nice, long vacation, they all come to an end and become fond memories.

Ok, I need since reviews please.... :-)

My Dr had only done about 35 total. Insurance companies only came on board a couple years ago and we are a little SLOWER here in Maine. My Dr was a plastic surgeon prior to bariactrics, I assumed her stitching line would be perfect and it was. :-) She had lots of experience with gastric bypass and lap bands. I think in all fairness, unless people pay cash, the sleeve just hasn't been covered that long.

I just noticed your weight ticker. You have done marvelous!!!! Congratulations.

I am 6 weeks out and have been able to drink normally for nearly half that time. I don't even think about. I can't remember ever chugging prior to my surgery, but I have no problem picking up a water bottle and drink what I want. I always liked the 24oz Poland Spring water with the sippy end, but hate that now. I prefer a regular screw off cap where I can control the flow of the water.