New & Improved Mel

Best story ever!! You go!! hot-daddy!!

I was on liquids 3 weeks before and 2 weeks afterwards... pretty close to what your doctor has instructed. The 3 week diet before surgery is hard but gets you off to a great start. I lost more weight in the 3 wk liquid diet before surgery than I did at 2 months post op! Honestly use this time to get your journey started, the weightloss with the sleeve is gradual! and isn't a miracle. (Don't get me wrong it works and you lose weight, but you will lose more weight in these first 3 weeks if you stick to the rules than you will with the sleeve, once you can eat again.. believe me!!) Did your doctor explain that the strict diet shrinks your liver and makes your surgery easier to perform and can lead to less complications?? Which is a very good thing to do!! Try to trust your doctor they don't do 7 years at university to make our lives hell... (well we hope not anyway!! lol). I might have just been lucky but I had a great recovery, I have never once vomitted or even felt sick.. maybe because I was on liquids for longer than some maybe my stomach had more time to heal...?? I dunno (I'm not a doctor he,he).. Trust that at the moment, the liquid diet is hell, but this hell ends once you have had surgery.. Instantly the hunger is gone and the obsession with food fades.. the diet afterwards is easy! Just get yourself through the next few weeks! You can do it!!! Best wishes for your surgery, speedy recovery and awesome weight-loss!!!!!

It sounds a little like you bought clothes that may be a little too BIG for you already!! lol... I think you should have done the shimmy scoot dance thingy and got your skinny-shrinking booty into the straight XL's (without the 2!!)... That will be your size next week anyway!! lol. It's great to hear everybody's success stories!! You go girl!!

I'm at 3 months out and here is where I'm at: I started this journey at 100kg (aahh!!) 220lbs and now I weigh 77.6kg / 170 lbs (Yay!!!) I have lost 22.4kg / 49lbs... I was busting out of Australian size 18's and now I can get my butt into a size 12!!! I have lost 71 cm in total from my body.. 20cm alone from my waistline!! My BMI is now 31, down from 40.. I once had sleep apnoea, now I don't wake up grasping for air!! I used to feel huge and in the way, now I feel comfortable in my skin... I used to puff crossing to oval to pick up my kids, I now skip up the stairs with ease.. My exercise bike was caked with dust, it's now out of hibernation. What else can I say? but this is without a doubt the best thing I could have ever done for myself!!!... Sure compared to others, I am one of the 'slow-losers'.. but thats fine. I chose to be a 'secret-sleever', so the gradual loss is working well for me, nobody suspects that I am losing weight in any other way than good old diet and exercise, (which is pretty accurate anyway).. but I have this sensational tool that makes it just that little bit easier!! I still have 15.6kg / 34lbs to lose reach my goal weight of 62 kg (BMI of 25)... so I guess my only concern is that I am now worried about when this weight loss will stop and the honeymoon period people say about on this forum??.. (That and the fact that I am still losing quite a lot of hair each day, luckily I have quite a lot hair to begin with!!)... So if anybody has any advice or experience about what to expect in terms of weight loss from this point on I would really appreciate it!

Thanks everybody, I have started taking Biotin hope it starts to improve the hair loss situation soon because I am leaving my DNA everywhere!!!! Hope everybody is travelling along well too!!

You will know what is right for you. At first the fact that you have had this surgery is all you can think about and it dominates your life and probably is on the tip of your tongue.. but I am at 3 months now and it has just become a new-awesome way of life for me now. I imagine its how skinny people eat naturally and I have just over-eaten for as long as I can remember... I don't feel as though I have done anything to myself to be eating like I do now, that part is almost forgotten (hehe.. like childbirth).. I truely feel like I just eat like a healthy thin person now... so it really isn't like I am going around consciously hiding anything... maybe if I had a lapband I would feel as though I have something to declare??? (the fact that something is put into your body?).... But I didn't feel the need to inform everybody of getting my tonsils and wisdom teeth removed either and still don't!! lol Best of luck everybody

I don't know if this is a coincidence; but I am 3 months out and recently posted my 3 month update. Since then my Nexium which was prescribed for 3 months after surgery finished. This week I didn't lose any weight, when I have lost about 1kg or 2.2lbs a week for the past 12 weeks... Has anybody else had this happen or think there is a connection between Nexium or any other stomach acid reducing medication and their weight loss?? (Im just trying to figure out what went wrong!) Mel

Thanks KellyL, made an appointment to get some more scripts. Thank you, I am convinced this is my problem!! ((HUGS)) KellyW, I really hope things settle down for you. Perhaps a change in your hormones is causing your hunger at the moment, I still get ravenous before the time of the month and having this surgery made my cycle all over the place!! (but still worth it )

You know what made me not tell anyone?? .. was when I was trying to put a face to a name about another mother at my childs school; the person I was taking to said "You know, 'The Sleeve-Sisters'"... I instantly knew who she was talking about and didn't even know the lady!! I thought that was sad That this probably amazing, friendly woman (that I didn't know) was only known for the surgery she chose to have... I dunno, just my opinion Some might be happy that having the surgery made them 'known', I guess it depends on our individual personalities. Having said that, if I had a friend or anybody who shared my weight problems ask me how I lost weight, I would confide in them and gladly help them in anyway I could, but at the moment I am surrounded by thin people!!

I told my immediate family and my best friend only. Like you said, I didn't want to defined for life as "Mel who had WLS", when I am "Mel" and always will be "Mel"... I am glad everyday I just did it & told nobody and don't feel an once of guilt when people ask or say I'm looking good.. I reply my standard reply "I'm trying hard!!".. which is mostly true I feel I don't need anybody else's judgement!

I think I will go to my GP and get another script.. I did read on the packaging that Nexium can hinder absorption of B group Vitamins, specifically B12 (which is something you don't want to have a deficiency in as it affects your mental health and leads to mania). KellyW.. perhaps the rumbling is how your new stomach functions now, I know things are not the same for my stomach now, and sometimes it does lots of flips and I can kinda feel the food being processed now..

I have to agree with Disney here, I reckon go with your cravings. If you only allow yourself a small taste and sit and eat it slowly and enjoy whatever it is, the craving goes and you don't have to feel ashamed by doing what you did caused by constantly depriving yourself of something. It is an easily fixed eating disorder!! Just as long as you keep it to a small amount or make sure you make up for any indulgences by doing extra on the treadmill etc.. I don't think it is good to constantly deprive yourself and sometimes we crave things we nutritionally lack..NOT that a chip supplies much or any nutrition but pehaps you needed salt? ..Who knows,(probably not the case) but the other poster who mentioned somebody that does the same thing with a piece of steak could possibly be low on Iron?? (or just really want a STEAK! LOL). Or maybe this way of life is something you would prefer to adopt when you are at the maintenance stage of your weight loss?? Its up to you, but don't be so hard on yourself, you are obviously very motivated and doing the right thing 99% of the time All the best,

I am only 7 weeks out and can eat heaps more food already!! Today I went to a BBQ and ate a small steak a spoon of potato salad and a spoon of crunchy noodle salad (still a 1/4 of the serve I once would have eaten easily)... but prior to the BBQ lunch there were chips & dips served and I ate a handful of that rubbish too!! I am so worried because I don't feel I have the restriction others describe. I can eat 3/4 of a 6 inch subway... is that too much?? I think my surgeon is worried too, that perhaps in my case too much of the stretchy part of the stomach was left behind because he asked me to keep my Xrays of my barium swallow safe because we will need to refer to them in the future!! I also had a very easy recovery from this surgery and have been able to eat anything from approx 5 weeks out. At the moment I am still losing weight (slowly) probably averaging 1-2 pounds a week. Does this sound like I am likely to regain my weight again?? If I have already stretched my pouch is it too late now? Is there any way to get restriction back??

I love hearing these success stories!! It is amazing that we are all able to inspire each other with our journeys to a healthier life. (Before this surgery I couldn't inspire anybody!) Congratulations and 'You Go Girl' on your weight loss goal!! I bet shopping for you wedding dress was so much more fun than it would have been 8mths ago!! You were probably overwhelmed with choice instead of having to settle for whatever fitted!! Best wishes for you now, and for reaching your goal and for your special day xx

I couldn't agree more! People need to be aware that this can happen and hopefully your very informative post will make others recognise when something isn't 'right' with their sleeve and perhaps they may have some knowledge at what to expect in their next stage of recovery. Thank-you for sharing your story and it is wonderful to hear that your fiance is getting better each day. Hopefully in a month or two, when she is feeling the amazing feeling that comes along with losing weight, all the pain and heartache she is feeling right now will be a distant memory. Sending warm wishes your way,

... I don't know but I am pretty sure your old habbits would have had you devour that bag of chips and not give it a second thought. I think you did well. Remember you didn't actually eat a thing! I think you are being a bit hard on yourself and I am sure, in time, your cravings for these foods will diminish.. but even if they don't, really whats the harm in what you did?? (Apart from the fact that you wouldn't do it in public! LOL). Try to Celebrate your small achievements along the way and remember how far you have come. We don't always have to suffer in life to 'be good' I think you chose a smart way to tackle your cravings.

Okay.. I wanna be you right now.. I can't wait to be tiny!! Very inspirational.. so how much did you lose in total in the 7mths??

I spent months researching and reading people's posts on this website before having VSG surgery because I was petrified of a complicaion but I didn't register or post anything myself until I was a few days away from surgery . I am sad that BlackBelt's first post has unfortunately turned out to be the very unlucky message that his fiance's surgery didn't go as planned..... Everybody in this supportive community wishes you, and especially your fiance, their best wishes for her speedy recovery as we remember the fear we felt of the risk of a complication.. which sadly became a reality for your fiance Keep in touch, as the wealth of knowledge that members of this site have may be useful to both you and your fiance as she recovers. I know in my opinion, the advice I have received from members of this community has been invaluable. Best Wishes to you both,

Thanks everybody, I have taken 'on board' a little bit of everybodies advice: I have reduced my portions back to approx 1/2 cup, I have cut down the carbs to only high-fibre Cereal in the morning, and started counting calories (not just protein). I have also increased my fluids because I was rarely reaching 4 cups of Water / day let alone 8!! I can see the scales moving already! And you are right this isn't going to happen itself, I have to make it happen! and I plan on taking full advantage of the first 6 month- 8 month losing period!!! I am actually considering going on fluids again for a week or so to kick-start the weight-loss again.. I lost 10kg / 22 lbs on the 3wk liquid diet Pre-op, and so far 9kg / 19.8 lbs in the 8 weeks since surgery.. and I still have 21kg / 46.2 lbs to lose to reach a BMI of 25... nearly halfway there!! Thank-you for your advice and for setting me on the right track again xxx

I am one month out and we recently had an Easter vacation and an amazing thing happened... I actually liked some of the photos taken of me, I didn't instantly want to delete them straight away.. (In fact, I posted one on Facebook, which is huge for me)... you will like yourself more too after this. Its funny because I still have 55 pounds to lose, but I already feel so much more attractive and better about myself (and I am only at a weight that I felt huge and gross at 2yrs ago, whereas now I feel great at this same weight)... I wish I had realised that years ago.. it really is all in the mind. I found U-tube awesome to watch people's sleeve journeys. I followed many people and watched their progress, it is truely inspirational and amazing... so for those at the countdown stage look it up. You can also watch an actual sleeve operation being performed and it made me feel like...'wow, that doesn't look that hard, surely they can't bugger that up?'. I haven't regretted my decision at all. I worried about how I would feel having binned half my stomach, but I can honestly say it is such a relief not to me ruled by it anymore...not to feel constantly hungry, searching the pantry. I still crave naughtly things and I still have them, but once when I would have eaten a whole box of potato wedges with sour cream, I can only fit in about 5. It is awesome that you don't always have to go-without! Best of luck to you all

Yep I am with the pillow tip! I am a side sleeper and found it most comfortable to clutch a small firm pillow against my stomach to fall asleep. I usually lost it during the night, but it really helped me get to sleep or fall back asleep if I woke up. I took night-time pain meds for the first week or so. Good luck, a good night's rest is so important.

When I was at the count-down like you are, I constantly logged on to member's before and after pictures to remind myself of the life I was going to get and how successful this surgery is for so many people. I had to leave my kids for 4 days, and I had never spent a night away from them, but without a doubt having this surgery was the best thing I could have done. I wish you all the best

Good for you!! Keep a food diary, it really helps. I had a 2 week stall (eating Easter eggs hasn't helped the situation). I had an appointment with my dietician scheduled for next week and had to take a copy of what I had eaten a week the week before the appointment, and had to fill out my food diary... well my weightloss started again!!! It's amazing how much we eat without realizing it and the food diary makes you focus on getting your Protein and making better food choices. Good luck! We are all in this boat together & congratulations on losing 72 pounds now its time to lose a few more. The best thing is you have proven that you had a 'bender' and didn't GAIN, this is the best tool ever!!

Well that explains a few things for me too! I would describe my diarrhea after the barium swallow as 'explosive!!'. (I was glad it wasn't the opposite, but I felt horrible afterwards). Kid05, I had some abnormal pooling of the contrast, but as no leak was present the report stated "satisfactory appearances of post sleeve gastrectomy". I looked back over my xrays and one of them has the appearance of a constricted shape in the middle. When I studied them, I could see that the barium in the oesophagus restricted into a narrow opening into the stomach. Then proceeding xrays had a more banana-shape as the barium flowed through the stomach. I really hope the unusual shape you saw while your x-rays were taken was the constricted section due to the narrow opening into the stomach (stomach valve), which occurs as the barium enters the stomach (immediately after you have swallowed it). I am crossing my fingers for you and wish you the best of luck. Take care x

I absolutely strugged after having this surgery with feelings that something is wrong. I constantly thought I had a leak and that the feelings I was feeling were signs that something went wrong in surgery. I think the fact that we chose to have this surgery, and chose to have part of our stomach's removed, when we were perfectly okay before just fat (maybe with some obesity related illnesses).. it really plays on one's mind. In the end I had to focus on the fact that if I needed my gallbladder or appendix out I wouldn't hesitate to have them whipped out and wouldn't feel any guilty feelings or be in such a worried state afterwards. You are doing the right thing seeing your doctor as soon as possible, but in the mean time try to relax. I had distressing shoulder pain after my surgery and it still mildly exists now, at one month out. I had a hiatus hernia repair along with being sleeved, which is a very common proceedure with this surgery and I was told to expect the shoulder pain for approx 6wks. Perhaps you too had a hernia? I was in a lot of pain after surgery and when my drain was removed (not the nicest of experiences) the majority of the pain went away. It was such a relief, it obviously irritates your diaphram and internal structures, hopefully the removal of the drain has the same effect for you. In the first couple of days I felt very woozy and dizzy moving around. Make sure you remember to take deep breaths and hold them in to get plenty of oxygen into your blood so you can heal. I also found sipping Water gave me pain under my ribcage and found it easier to crunch ice chips instead, I found them very soothing. Keep perservering and you will be okay, it is all so new and initially your stomach churns and gives you a hard time but within a week or so you will find yourself feeling completely normal at times and forgetting you even got sleeved. I wish you all the best and hope your check-up turns out to be just fine. Oh, another tip, if you still have a drain in: Drink blue gatorade, if you have a leak it may help you see the blue discoloration in the fluids in the drain or help you put your mind at ease that you may not have a leak. Best Wishes x