Tenshi

I had my two year follow-up with my surgeon this morning. My surgery was 1/23/12... I last saw him 1/31/13. It the 14 months or so since seeing him last, I have gained nearly 30-pounds. I am discouraged, frustrated, humiliated, and entirely to blame for all of it. I know what I'm doing wrong - I tend to graze, I eat carbs, I drink soda... pretty much everything I did before surgery. I just want to put this out there to say that I know I've failed myself - and my surgeon and my sleeve - but I printed out the five day pouch test and am going to try to reset things and get back on track, utilizing this (very expensive) tool to the best of my ability. Anyone else in a similar spot and need support?

Thanks so much for the support, everyone. It means the world! I am several hours into day one of liquids for the week. I felt pretty bad this morning when I woke up, and it has gradually gotten worse. I'm having stomach cramps and other gastrointestinal pains. I'm wondering if I'm lactose intolerant - I got skim milk for doing my shakes and things, but I had been drinking soy for years. But, I think soy makes Protein shakes taste even more "off" from real food than what they do normally, so I got a gallon of Skim. Let's just say that my office mates are NOT going to be happy with the state of my intestines today.

NMJG, I have done that once before and found that it really did work... although I went for the gold and did liquids again for a week. I think I will do the same this time, and then go into the pouch test rules and work back up. It's the only time I've ever felt "reset".

How are we all doing? Post happies, sads, successes, frustrations, and pics!

You are absolutely not alone.

I took three of my PPI pills today (ranitidine)... and, unrelated, have been very thirsty for the past couple of days, meaning I've managed to get my Water all in for the first time in ages! But... I'm wondering if I didn't wash my pills out of my sleeve before they had a chance to work? Was anyone advised not to drink excessively after taking meds for 15 or 30 minutes? It would make sense, but I was only told not to drink immediately after, or during, eating. No mention of medicines.

I am very much in the same place as you. I'm going back to liquids today and then stepping up to Proteins and veggies after a week or so. I feel like it's the only way I can reset my brain and my sleeve! We can do this.

Hi everyone, This might be one of those posts that drives people crazy, but... here goes. I am 14-months out from my surgery (January 23, 2012, represent!). I haven't lost weight since before Christmas, except for that bout of the stomach flu I had at New Year. I go to a therapist monthly, I keep up my appointments with my dietician, I take my Vitamins (about 90%, which I figure is pretty good!), I exercise (but not as much as I used to).... but I graze. I'm not looking for a pat on the head and a glass of Water to send me on my way telling me everything will be ok - I know it won't if I don't get my **** together! Part of the problem is that the weight I am right now... is the weight at which I have spent the majority of my adult life. I am comfortable here. I expected to be stalled here... and so, I am. I let things go for a while, telling myself, hey, a little break is ok. A little break is now three months of no movement, and that is NOT OKAY! I suppose I could point fingers and blame and excuses at all kinds of different things, but why bother? It's all me in the end! It was up to me to make this decision, and now it's up to me to carry through with it. What have some of you done when you've floundered for motivation? Mantras, exercises, kicks in the pants... share with me your best!

Thanks, everyone! I found myself nodding along with so much of what you all said. Sometimes a break is necessary. I KNOW what to do... just have to DO IT! When all else fails, drink Water. Get back to basics - Protein, liquid, exercise. DO NOT GRAZE. I think what I'm going to do.... is print this thread out, cut out bits that are truly right on point, and make a little collage to hang right in front of my face at my desk at work!

My one year surgiversary was the 23rd! On the left, the day I left the hospital. On the right... five minutes ago.

The 92.2 in my ticker is true loss. Thank you!

Obviously, I've never posted pics before.

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My first reported NSV.... I put on new tights this morning... and I got them all the way up! I don't have droopy tights crotch because I couldn't get the legs all the way up over my thighs. Epic! (Shocking revelation: Having tights that fit practically eliminates chub rub!)

Hey, January 2012 Sleevers! How is everyone doing? I hope as amazingly as you'd hoped. Myself, right now.... I'm dealing with stomach flu/norovirus. A bit of a nightmare to start my new year! Sound off, check in, shout out... all of that. Let us know how it's going!

There's a lot of varying information for a LOT of things regarding the sleeve - it seems like no one doctor is the same as another. One thing I'm most curious about is your program's take on NSAIDs after the sleeve. My clinic just started offering the sleeve not too long ago, and they still treat it like RNY - same pre/post-op rules, same dietary recommendations, etc. Recognizing that fact, I have kind of cobbled together my own plan (that is working) from my own research here and other places. Being that my clinic treats VSG just like RNY, I am in the group that the program says no NSAIDs, ever, ever again. Just like no carbonation and no drinking through a straw.... I've been fighting my first cold virus since surgery over the past couple of days, and the wonder drug that is AlkaSeltzer Plus (aside from being fizzy) is an NSAID. I'm hoping to garner a majority, or at least collect different schools of thought on the whole NSAID thing to see if it should, logically, be part of a post-op VSG lifestyle.

Yes, I definitely do. I did ask my doctor about it, and they checked my blood work/levels, and everything was fine. I am glad to see I'm not alone, either!

I don't lose well when I eat too few calories. I know this not only from my sleeve experience, but also my diet attempts pre-sleeve. I aim for 1200-ish/day in real food calories.

I eat cereal pretty regularly. My dietitian just told me last week that I should try to keep it to three mornings/week, just because of the carb factor.

Congrats! I just had the under-290 breakthrough this morning, so I totally feel ya!