Mary Stokley Gromer

We are a Buddy group of Sleevers having surgery in Dec 2017. We welcome other Buddies that came help us along our journey!

You got it Girlfriend!!! PS...for me, maybe not for most....I find when I set my goals that end in a "9" really helps me. Like right now, I'm at 221 and a short goal is 219, next is 209, then 199. If I struggle in between, I start the goal to get to the "4". I'm better at short term goals so I am not overwhelmed with the long term HUGE weightloss I need to do, like when I started and it was 125 lbs. I can even think of that. I was also thinking today about my 6 month apt on June 5th. Can I really make it to 100 lbs? I can see that happening!!!

That's sooooo AWESOME!!! Congratulations!!! I'm 22 lbs out from ONEderland!! I cannot wait to post my own message about hitting it!! I've been cleaning out my closet for the last 2 months. Did it this week again. My closet only has 1/3 being used. I don't feel like shopping just yet cause I want to buy smaller clothes. I have a lot of smaller sizes now due to my post lap band surgery. But yesterday I hit one pound below my lowest with lap band! I feel like if I were to shop, I'd be "settling" at where I am. One or two newbie clothes but I'm holding off for the major shopping spree. Also, have you noticed your shoes getting really big? I'll be so happy to buy new shoes - shoe fanatic here!

Tasg, don't beat yourself up. My scale goes back and forth 3-4 lbs in the same day! My hubby drives long haul truck and hit quit the horrible company he was working with right at Valentine's Day. We had Shari's Berries that I had bought him too! I chose to fudge the diet. I've had my granddaughters over and we have made cookies. Wow, did it spike my blood sugar and I hated it. So just get back on the bandwagon, go forward. You can do this cause you wouldn't have had the surgery unless you could!! Just know that it is through the weaknesses that we are made strong!

I was sleeved on 12/5 so we are almost twins! I am down 44 but it's been tough. My NP wasn't joking when she said it would still be hard work! I've only lost 5 lbs since Valentine's Day. I wasn't even trying but portion control is what helped me lose that. Now I'm working on doing another RESET. What that means is I go back to the beginning, right after surgery. What made us lose so fast? It's because we were basically fasting before and after surgery then a liquid protein diet the first 2 weeks. At least that's what they had me do. I have done a RESET 2 other times and it helped me drop 8 lbs in about 4 days. Still taking my vitamins, drinking a lot of water. I've also incorporated the Apple Cider Vinegar drink into my plan, which I'm starting on today. Exercise has been my downfall on a consistent basis. I'm doing good at exercising 3 times per week but can't seem to get more in, so I've started increasing that. I'm trying to lose 22 lbs by April 5th, my 4 month sleeve anniversary. It will be hard but it's 18 days. If I hit this goal, I will be under 200 for the first time in 20 yrs!! Make a goal for yourself for April 7th and let's see how we do!!

Hi Everyone!! It's been a long long time since I have been on here. Even worse was being sick. I had bronchitis so bad in December I had 2 rounds of antibiotics and constant nebulizer treatements just to breathe. My whole weight loss stalled in week 3 when I got sick. I never got completely well but was able to start losing weight again. I started getting a relapse the 3rd week of January again. It was just as bad. 2 more rounds of antibiotics...UGH!! I asked my doctor what's going on? I feel something is really wrong. Then last Monday I was going through old mail. I found a letter from the hospital dated Dec 13th but I never saw it since I was recovering from surgery. The letter said "We are required by State of CA to test all people for MRSA. We need to inform you that your nasal test tested positive for MRSA". Oh GREAT. If you don't know what that is...it is a staph infection that is resistant to antibiotics. If not treated in can cause really bad damage or be fatal. So this week has been a whirlwind about that now. My Primary Care said that could be why I got so sick. The 2nd antibiotic she gave me is on the list of meds that kill MRSA and remarkably I got well with this crap!! So it makes me wonder. Now that said I have to do a regime of 3 months of Bleach Baths twice a week, a mouth wash and a nasal ointment. They can't test me at a lab or doctor's office. Only at the ER or in hospital. So I'm thinking I'm going to make a visit to the ER at the hospital where I had surgery. If I am NOT positive for MRSA now, I want to know. I certainly don't want to sit in a tub with 1-2 cups of bleach in the water for 30 min twice a week. Plus that mouth wash can be damaging to my teeth and discolor them. Got to say I got it from the HOSPITAL and that ticks me off. Had it got on my incisions, we could be talking some serious problems. At least that is ok. I'll try to get online a little more often but wanted you to know. I'm sorry I bugged out but it's been tough. Goods news for my 2 month followup post-op I was 34 lbs down with a total of 50 lost. I wanted more but being I was so sick, I think that is good, My goal was to hit 40 and that would also be my lowest when I had the lapband 6 years ago. So I'm almost there. The 25 lbs to go to be under 200!! I've cleaned out my closet, and pulled out all my clothes from when I had lap band (forever style clothes not fad clothes) and I'm having a HUGE clothing sale!! Hope you are all doing this too or giving it away!

I read a lot about constipation prior to my surgery. While in the hospital they gave me sugar free jello, which I know has Sugar Alcohol which side effects is a laxative. So I ate one at every meal. It worked when I got home. I've had some form of diarrhea since being home every day. About the gas, oh my, it's horrible and at times very painful. I think I'd rather have a loose bm than constipation that I've read hurts really bad. I just try to keep up with my liquid requirements so that might help you. Also adding Benefiber to my protein shake helped. Today is one month since my surgery and I've lost 18 post op. Got really sick for the last 2+ weeks and I stopped losing even though I didn't eat much. I was dehydrated that entire time and still get my liquids but it's on the lower requirements. Now I'm losing again. As for your hiatal hernia, as much as you didn't know you had one prior to surgery, it won't give you any pain afterwards either. I had one 6 yrs ago and it was repaired when I had lap band surgery. Never felt a thing and my doctor said I wouldn't. With this sleeve surgery he said he did a few stitches with the hernia to help support it (I had a blockage last year which they think stretched it). Be sure to eat and drink slow or else you can backed up or the stomach get full too fast and hurt. I've only had a few times where I can feel it wanting to come up but I slowed down, stood up and it went down. I haven't yet get anything backed up to my throat or throwing up. I have a bad habit of eating too fast so there's been times I have and my new sleeve really hurts and I have to deal with it. Now I've backed off eating some things, went back to softer foods and stopped eating before I feel I'm full. That's helped. I don't think swallowing has to do with the hernia but maybe go back on shakes only and see if that helps.

Hi everyone, I got really sick with bronchitis about 10 days ago, been down sick. Weight loss came to a halt even though I'm not eating much. I've been sleeping or out of it so much that I've struggled meeting the minimum on fluids. I'm so frustrated but know I cannot help being sick. They gave me a Prednisone shot too, didn't want to give me the pills due to the stomach still healing, thank goodness! Plus what the side effects are. I've been on antibiotics since Tuesday and not much better. Going into coughing fits to the point of wanting to throw up. At least my incisions are healed so they don't hurt when I cough. (Got this same thing about 10 days after lap band surgery and it was awful with the incisions). I think not drinking enough is making my body retain more fluids so no weight loss. Plus I was so ready to start exercising but that's a no no right now. I guess my body will kick in again when I'm healed. So if I'm not on here, it's probably cause I'm not online cause I'm feeling sick.

SK, I had no problem with my hernia repair 6 years ago with lap band surgery. Had no idea it was even done. I hope everything went well for you. Keep me posted, you're on your way!

Hey Joe, I had surgery on the 5th and have had some struggles. I feel I've stretched my new stomach some by trying to get all the fluids in. I went on pureed on the 20th, sounds like we are on the same diet schedule. My stomach has been messed up since surgery, mainly diarrhea every day. I've had no reflux but dealing with a ton of gas. I'm actually thinking of getting some gas-x to take. Not sure if that is safe. The week I went to my post op on Dec 20, I told them I had been having chills but since I had no fever, they disregarded it as post op and the trauma from surgery. I was getting sick which happened the next day and due to the holidays I was sick over Christmas. Sick all this week, still sick. I haven't been on here for about 10 days. My weight loss was halted then and I've struggled meeting the minimum fluids because I've been sleeping so much. I can't really deal with much, just trying to get well so I can get back on track. I'm ticked about it since I had a goal for the first month and I need to exercise and can't. Not sure if this is what you wanted to hear but it's my story for now. I do hate the pureed phase....disgusting. My doctor told me some ideas to do instead. Like mash foods, chew more than normal.

Hey Joe, I had surgery on the 5th and have had some struggles. I feel I've stretched my new stomach some by trying to get all the fluids in. I went on pureed on the 20th, sounds like we are on the same diet schedule. My stomach has been messed up since surgery, mainly diarrhea every day. I've had no reflux but dealing with a ton of gas. I'm actually thinking of getting some gas-x to take. Not sure if that is safe. The week I went to my post op on Dec 20, I told them I had been having chills but since I had no fever, they disregarded it as post op and the trauma from surgery. I was getting sick which happened the next day and due to the holidays I was sick over Christmas. Sick all this week, still sick. I haven't been on here for about 10 days. My weight loss was halted then and I've struggled meeting the minimum fluids because I've been sleeping so much. I can't really deal with much, just trying to get well so I can get back on track. I'm ticked about it since I had a goal for the first month and I need to exercise and can't. Not sure if this is what you wanted to hear but it's my story for now. I do hate the pureed phase....disgusting. My doctor told me some ideas to do instead. Like mash foods, chew more than normal.

Hi Everyone, I have had my grandkids for 3 days this week. Winding down and been off of here. I had my first post op appointment yesterday. Got the staples out!! Plus I've lost 17 lbs since surgery. I was 14 down for 6 days and felt stalled but kept doing the liquid diet. Then on Monday I got an early Christmas gift of down 3 lbs overnight! This to me was significant. Why? Cause my bouncing board is always 250 and this put me at 248!! It is nice to break thru that barrier. I'm still battling being tired. I need to get to the gym too cause brrr, it's cold here.

I'd go for the sleeve. I hated having a foreign object in me. My doctor said the life of the lapband was 12 years but that most people have problems and the long term results aren't as good. Sleeve yes, it's permanent but there's a year long window of great weight loss.

Yesterday I was down as well over reading a post on a Facebook group. A gal posted that she had surgery ONE DAY before me on Dec 4th and she's lost 35 lbs SINCE surgery. What? wow, I have never heard this before. My husband says she's lying as I know some people embellish their results. More believable is 35 since she started. But in only 11 days? I think most of the people who read that post was not believing it. I can believe 30 in the first month. Anyone heard of 30 lbs in 10-11 days?

Thanks SK, seems like today I have a little more energy. But I have to be careful cause it catches up with me later in the day. We are huge on Christmas and that's why I think I'm so frustrated. Used to put 150K lights on our house, we were on TLC's Invasion of the Christmas Lights but haven't done the lights for 4 Christmas' but we are still doing the toy and food drive we've done for 14 yrs. It's smaller this year so that part is good for me cause it's a huge job. You're right, I have to think about myself. Even going through this I decided it is for me, not hoping my husband would lose, which he needs to desperately. I've been burned out working on the side even though I've been on disability for years. My hubby was on disability in 2016 and it was so stressful to see him in pain, plus I had to do everything, the bills, the house and earn some income. It took a toll on me even up to this year. I had my lap band out in Jan 2017 and have wanted this surgery then but they said I needed to wait and let sores on my stomach from the lap band to heal. Then Nov 7 was my date and our car show fundraiser was rained out and rescheduled for the 11th which blew out my surgery date. So Dec 5 was the time and I have no regrets. Probably good your surgery is after Christmas. My doctor only had me on a liquid diet for 2 days before surgery and I ate all my "last favorite foods" the two weeks before that but smaller portions. I still lost 5 lbs somehow, lol. How long do you have to do a liquid diet before surgery? I hope it's 2 days like me, it will help for Christmas Day. Thanks for writing. I really appreciate it. I'll keep posting how I'm doing. My post op is Wednesday to get the staples out, I'm so ready, they hurt!!

Ketosis bad breath is a side effect of ketosis and it will stay. Get that mouth wash with 2 compartments that says it helps for 12-24 hours.

Holly I was sleeved on the 5th and post on the 20th, Wed. Liquids until then. I've been talking to my hubby about doing a treat tray for our friends this coming week, as long a I have the energy but he's helping me. I'm talking all sweet treats and it's not phasing me one bit. Happy about that. We bought avocados and cheese too!! I just am so scared I stop losing!!

Hi everyone, I started this buddies group and I haven't been on much since Tuesday. I feel like I need a shoulder to cry on. I flopped on Tuesday by overdoing. I felt great after surgery on Dec 5 until Monday and then Tues I had to get ready, go to the doctor, thought great this is my first big time out....I was up all day, no rest. Then that afternoon felt like I was about to drop but had a Christmas program for my granddaughter. It wasn't until 6:30pm. I got so upset at my son there who wouldn't even come sit with us and he hasn't even called me since surgery, I had to call me and I got sooooo upset, we left right after her part in the program. I mean so upset it really affected me I couldn't calm down even though after getting home I was exhausted. Didn't what to do so I took an Ambien to get to sleep. I haven't been the same since. Tired most of the time. I haven't been back on my high blood pressure meds since surgery but I bet it was up on Tuesday. I'm down 12 lbs as of Tuesday, that was one week and 14 by Thursday. My scale is the same as the doctor which is good to know the true weight. Now it's the same, nothing. I read all these huge numbers but try to only focus about me. I've had mostly diarrhea since last Friday which I guess could catch up with me too. I'm getting my fluids and protein. Any suggestions?

Hope you're doing good. Take it easy during the healing process.

Sorry to hear that. I have my first follow up on Dec 20, sleeved on Dec 5. I was doing so great until Tuesday!! Then I over did, had an apt with primary care, then Christmas Program for granddaughter and I collapsed. The one thing my doctor told my hubby in the hospital is not to let me get fatigued because it will cause a vicious cycle. So I'm taking it easy. Had so much energy last Monday, flop on Tuesday!

HAHA!! My growls are getting tame now. I'm at 12 lbs too and I can't seem to break that. I was hoping to get to 20 lbs by Dec 20th when I go to the doctor. I'm not walking enough so I'm going to pick that up the next few days. I really over did myself yesterday. I had couple of night with only 4-5 hours of sleep and a big day yesterday and it slapped me down last night. Better today. I know for me, I have to overdo in order to gain my strength. I've also barely made my fluids limit now for 2 days, probably why I didn't lose any more.

I was sleeved on 12/5 and wanted to go to a movie today but didn't, not because I didn't feel like I could do it, just doing other things. Have fun in NY, a great place for the holidays. Was your surgery in NY?

My stomach growled last night for the first time since surgery last Tues. I decided to growl back, saying it cannot have it's way any more with me!! Then I patted myself on the back. It still growled but I'm not giving in. Have you tried jello or pudding thinned out? That might help. Must be sugar free. Is your 20 lbs just since surgery or from when you started? I weighed my crummy scale and it said I was down 12 but I go to my Primary in the morning to know for sure. I have lost inches. If you haven't taken your measurements, do it so in a week or two you can compare. It's inspiring.

Narin, I hope your surgery goes well on Monday. I had surgery last Tuesday so you're right behind some of us. I'm doing much better than 2 days post op. You will do great.

So far so good for me being sleeved on Dec 5th. I'm a little hungry today at times but ignoring it. Got to keep my eyes on the prize. Sorry to hear about your denial. Did they give you a reason?