happy1957

E-girl... You are doing this for all the right reasons. I am only 5 weeks out and can already eat most of my favorite foods. I had Mexican food on Friday evening. I had Shepard's pie yesterday. Yes, I can only have 1/3-1/2 cup of my favorites, but you learn to eat slow, savor ever morsel and enjoy what you put in your mouth more than you ever had. I promise you there are many folks that get stressed about what they will miss, but reality you can have everything and a small bite satisfies you. I am sure this is only going to get better for me. I am anxious to try salad, I loved salads and wraps. Now I can have a small wrap made on a 6 inch tortilla shell instead of an 18 inch. I may not even be able to finish it, but I can have it, and feel total satisfaction. I always get my protein first and then hopefully can put in some carbs one meal a day. You'll see, a new healthier you. Your friends will be amazed and envious. Good luck on Tuesday.

I used the G3-Recover. It's the highest protein and tastes pretty good. It is not sugar free, but at this point, who worries about calories? You're taking in so little. I got it at Walmart in the powdered protein section. ttp://www.gatorade.com/default.aspx#product?s=recover

Wow!! Cheap in comparison to mine.

I too had a required EGD, they where looking for ulcers, H-Pylori, Hiatal Hernia and any other types of abnormalities that could later cause issues with your new tummy. I just looked up the cost on my ins website... charges were 537.00 paid 376.50 for the Dr. 4186.94 paid 4186.94 for the hospital and 253.00 paid 233.00 for the pathologist. I believe the anesthesiologist was part of the hospital and not billed separately because they are now a hospital owned group. I think if you run it through your insurance they will pay for it especially if they find something or you already have a diagnosis such as acid reflux. If the Dr codes it as obesity, they may reject it, but running it through forces the providers to accept the "customary charges" opposed to the full charges as listed above. I actually was surprised to see how close the charges were. to to the actual allowed. My Dr charged 4190.00 for the actual VSG surgery and was only paid 1607.32. I personally think that is a little low considering the detailed, excellent care and responsibility that she had. My suggestion to you is ALWAYS run everything through your insurance no matter how insignificant it seems. I wish you the best.. It'll all be worth it in the end.

Your story seems similar to mine, no adverse moments in my journey with the exception of a three week stall and constipation issues. I have actually only lost 13 lbs in 5 weeks. :-) I'm looking foward to my 6 week follow up appointment next week and a real weigh in at the Dr's. I hope our journeys continue uneventful.

I wish you the best of luck, slow losing may be better in the long run, maybe we won't have any hanging anything. (That would be a miracle) Although just a few pounds and I am getting turkey jowls. Just four more months I may be considered "Senior Citizen" at many restaurants, so I guess I've earned them. :-) My sister had this surgery On August 30th, she looked like she was losing weight, but claims she had a 5 week stall. She has been sort of a roller coaster loser, nothing for a couple weeks than a good drop. She is almost at goal, lost 8 lbs in the last two weeks which is huge considering she is so small. I'll keep hoping it all works out..

I wrote about this same discouraging subject last evening. It seems that it's a common issue when we convert from liquids to food. Patience is what we need right now, our bodies will adjust and the weight will come off. The experienced people here all share similar stories. Good luck!

You have done a great job, 44 lbs in four months is awesome . I will try to be patient. I know that my disappointment should be short lived. I will get weighed by my Dr on the 9th and see what happens. I loved your words that my body is freaking out, I think my mind is at times too. :-) I am usually a very slow loser and should have this figured this out by now.

I too notice a difference in my clothes and people that haven't seen me in a little while notice that I've lost weight. Today my sister told me to throw my shirt away that I was wearing. It felt great on and roomy, but not huge. Historically I wear the same clothes even with a 40 lb swing, but I plan to dress diffently this time. My goal is to have this weight gone forever....

. At my two week follow up appointment I was given the ok to eat whatever I wanted with the exception of raw vegetables and steak. I was fortunate to NOT have to go through the mushie stage. I have had no issues with anything even Mexican spicy salsa has been fine. I hope you get to try what you like soon.

Congratulations Peacequeen. I'm glad that you can feel the real "peace" of being healthy and able to continue your journey. I hope that was your first and last bump in the road. The best of luck to you!

PS ..I have to keep reminding myself that I have always struggled and had to work extra hard to lose every pound my entire life. I usually have to be a work out junkie and can't do that yet according to my Dr. I am also post menopausal, have hypothyroidism and I'm OLD. :-) I'm sure all that attributes to the slower loss. My issue is with nothing happening, I just worry I'll be the first sleever to never lose.

Good morning Diva... I honestly have been trying to only weigh myself once a week on Wednesdays, but feeling on the skinnier side yesterday, I decided to step on the scale one day early. Well that got me no where. Of course I am not at all sorry that I had the surgery, I have been a quick healer, eat very well for 5 weeks post op. Yesterday I had my typical protein drink for breakfast, ISO Pure Chocolate with 15 calories of Benefiber, a cup of coffee a couple hours later, 2 turkey meatballs for lunch which had been simmered in the crock pot with spaghetti sauce and topped with a little Parmesan cheese. Got busy at work and forgot to have a snack at 3, but sipped on my water bottle all day and sneaked in a cup of plain tea. Then for dinner I had 2oz of shrimp salad on 5 baked flat bread crackers with a slice of Havarti cheese. That along with the 40 calories for my Viactin and more water was my day. I realize I am fortunate, I can eat anything, Have never been nauseous or thrown up. I sincerely think I do most everything correct. I feel better today, just had a moment of depression, that's why I stay in VST, someone always has kind words to pick you right back up and or make you feel that you're not alone in this process. Usually I hate that I even wrote something after I did. There are so many here that are truly having a tough time that my problem seems so minor in comparison. I have been sooooooooo fortunate to have had such a positive surgical experience. Thank you all for your replies and have a great day.

Thank you for writing. I will admit, I promised not to write about yet "another" stall since I have read many a posts about it. Yet when it happens to you and you are doing everything right, how can we NOT be disappointed. I realize I am on the lower BMI scale and shouldn't expect to see this 50lb loss in 5 weeks like I've read about, but a lb a week would even help. I am really worried that all the energy involved to get me to this point was in vain. I've only lost 8.5 lbs since surgery. I realize that is a great deal in 2 weeks, but , but, but.. I wish you the best of luck.. There seems to be so much success here, I want to be one of the successes.

Hello Krenee, Unfortunately I was denied two times and then had to do a final appeal. My denial was because I had lost weight and it had not been the required, consistent 24 months of a BMI of 40 or more. Never ever give up! I was worn out after fighting with them for nearly 11 months, but it finally worked out for me and although it' s only been 1 month since my surgery I can tell this is the best thing I've ever done for myself. This venue and the support that you get here will help you stay strong. I wish you the very best of luck....

Congratulations on being sleeved and on your way to a healthier life. I am only a month out, but it is very common to gain weight from all the fluids. I too gained a lot, but it came off, it's just water weight. :-) I think the scale is bad for our psyche, we should hide it at the neighbors and be weighed once every month. I am doing once a week and I think that too is to often, I haven't moved in 2 weeks. My clothes have gotten looser, but no weight loss. It's all part of the journey. Don't get discouraged, just sip, sip, sip and walk, walk, walk. You'll be feeling great soon.

You don't think you've done well? Crazy lady, look at your weight ticker. I was sleeved just a week after you and I am far from doing great, but before my sleeve, I was doing NOTHING! It will catch up with us. Wait and see, we may be slow, but think how quickly a year passes and I bet next year at this time we will be elated with our success. I love that you're going out and feel good enough to come home at 3 am. Those days are few and far between for this old broad. :-) Congratulations and keep up the good work and your spirit. Good things come to those who wait. :-)

I bet you will feel GREAT going out. I went back to work in a busy "social" world on my 9th day and it some how makes you feel better, the moving around, the chatting etc. I think you'll be fine and all the suggestions of discreet beverages is a good idea. You may need a little cat nap after, but enjoy yourself while you're there.

I am 5ft nothing.... My original goal from the bariactric center was 127, normal is 119-127 for my height, but because of my age, they chose the higher number. NOW, at my 2 week f/u, they put me on this scale that determined how much muscle mass you carry. Guess what????? They changed my goal weight to 141 based on my internal make-up They said I had the most muscle mass ever documented for a woman my age at their facility. I have worked out on and off most of my life and am a very muscular gal, so they determined I probably always will be. I have been at a 24.5 BMI before and still weighed 162, which is obese, but with calculated measurements and bone/muscle masses, I was not obese. So there is so much to consider when making that decision. I have not been under 160lbs in 25 years, so 141 would be thin for me, but doable. I wish you the best of luck with your decision.

I would say you must be tall... I am a mere 5 ft , if I lose 12-15 lbs I lose a clothes size, when you're tall it takes a little longer. I bet your clothes fit better, your feet feel better, you can reach the floor better and people notice you've lost. We all lose from our head down and gain the opposite way. I bet your face is thinner too. It'll happen. I too get discouraged when I see that people have lost 35lbs in a month. I am only 1 month out, but seriously, I've only lost 8.5 lbs from my surgery date. So no clothes size yet. People are asking me if I lost weight. So I know my face looks thinner. You should be proud of your journey so far, clothes can come later. bet you feel good no matter what the clothes size is. Congratulations and I wish you continued success.

Congratulations Biggie... I too was sleeved on December 28th. I have lost but 8.5 lbs. Although I had lost 5.5 on the liquid diet. Overall, it's not a big number, but more than I have ever lost in a month. You keep up the good work and so happy you are noticing differences already. Have a great day...

Good morning Peacequeen... I am happy that you are on the road to recovery, as a support person on your behalf, I have made he ultimate sacrifice and have not lost an ounce in two weeks as to not get ahead of you. :-) LOL Us December sleevers must stick together. I bet you're going to lose fast now, I hope your recovery is as smooth as mine has been from here on out. Now remember, you have to wait for me.. Have a great day..

I'm from Maine, I'll let you guess :-)

Congratulations!! I am so pleased that you are so far having a Positive experience. I wish you a continued positive recovery. I think you'll find from here on out is much easier than the pre-liquid diet. You are now on the losers bench. :-) Keep your goal in mind and the little bumps in the road will not matter. (((hugs)))