mendymayhem

My sleeve will be done on 10/22 by Dr Dat Nguyen in Manteca Ca. I live like three hours from there and would like to find a support group in the Chico, Oroville, Yuba City area. Hope to hear from some of you!

Stick to the plan! Picture the staples, holding your new seam together while it heals . Let it heal. I'm sure there are some who jumped ahead, but don't risk it . I was so sick of the liquid diet, because it was pure sweet. Broth gagged me. All I wanted was plain cream of wheat. But I didn't consider going against the dr. Just hang in there ! You can do this !

I eat real food only. Well, 99% of the time. Can only eat so much , I want quality

I had vsg. When I first started on meat, it would feel like it got stuck and it would hurt. This was after just a few tiny bites. It would freak me out and last maybe 15 minutes or so. Just start really slow . A few tiny bites. This new stomach has to adjust to meat while the new seam is still new and tender. Of course, call your doctor if you feel something is wrong. That's what he's there for.

Sorry, don't know how to reply directly to individuals. My problem was not using the sleeve properly . I was compulsively eating slider foods for comfort and hating myself for it, then needing more comfort. A vicious , vicious cycle . None of us said " I want to b morbidly obese when I grow up!". And few of us here just have a hard time resisting desserts. Just because your stomach is the size of a highlighter, the issues don't go away. I thought I'd never "work around" my sleeve, and i never intended to misuse this opportunity. But the underlying issues weren't removed with my stomach. I'm dealing with those now, but I wish I'd done it sooner. It has made a huge difference . The scale is starting to move in the right direction again. More importantly though, I'm beginning to heal emotionally ...... Mendy

Hi everyone, I'm an emotional eater. Had my vsg about a year and a half ago and I have lost very little weight. Because of using food to self medicate. I have managed to get some health issues improved, yet I feel like a failure . I'm now seeing a therapist and I'm optimistic in many ways. I need a cheering section, and someone to be accountable with. Any takers?!

Hi, I haven't been on here in ages, and started reading the comments on the top of this thread. So if the conversation has evolved from there, please forgive. We are where we are because of the things we eat. And we eat the things we eat for very different reasons. I had my surgery well over a year ago, and have lost very little weight. The surgery was a success, and I don't regret it a bit. But my food issues are unresolved. It's just the last month that I have got professional help and feel optimistic about dealing with them. If your excess weight is due not only to bad choices, but because food is your crutch, please get help for that now. Let a pro help you figure that out now. You don't want to be a year out and feel like a failure. And I would appreciate any input from others dealing with this......

In the beginning I had no acid at all. Once I started on an expanded diet, I found that I if I eat too much variety at once or certain foods ( one piece of salami kills me), I will have acid issues. I take a ppl, but I can skip it it altogether if I keep my diet clean and simple. Btw, I'm eight months out. Hope this is helpful.

I'm going tomarrow to see family for the first time since my surgery. It has been three years since we have seen each other. I gained quite a bit more weight between our last visit and my surgery. I'm afraid my progress won't be so noticeable to them, and that it will bother me. I know how far I've come...weight, energy, improved blood sugar..... But I'm afraid that I will get discouraged if they don't realize just how far I've come. They know I've had the surgery, what if they have expectations I won't meet? I wish I had a button to switch off worrying about what other people think. Arrrrgh!

That's amazing news! The count down begins! Congratulations !

Hi there. Although there's are many on here who just fly through this and are back to work in a week or less feeling great, that's not the average experience, what your going through is, so don't let that discourage you. Before surgery I found the perfect shake and in fact had been using it for years . After the surgery I couldn't stand it. For a while my tastes changed, and that shake grossed me out. I too had nausea, pretty bad. My doctor gave me something for it, but it didn't take care of it. That lasted for quite awhile. And once I could get a small amount in, I quickly got sick of sweet tasting things. Jello,shakes all sweet. And broth grosses me out. I just wanted plain cream of wheat or plain mashed potatoes....something with no taste. It seemed like ages until my doctor gave me the okay. My point? Your not alone, and this period will pass. Your body has gone through a lot and is working hard for you to heal itself. That is progress! If you have concerns, call your doctor. That said, your experience sounds a lot like mine in the beginning . Hang in there, it passes.....and welcome to this new chapter of your life!

How does the 5 day pouch test work? What are the benifits? I'm sure this has been discussed many times here, but I'm struggling to find my way around!

What is the point of doing this?

Ps. I two enjoy a steak and a glass of wine. My steak is about four ounces now, with slivers of blue cheese on top. That does it. I can't touch the baked potatoe any more. Too full. As for the wine, I sip some before my meal, and some awhile after my meal. I'm not missing out on anything!

Hi there, I can relate to all you wrote about. Do your research , and decide for yourself. That said......I worried about all those things. Eight months post op, I have no regrets. None. My energy is soaring. My blood work shows I am getting everything my body needs. I never feel hungry. I do feel at times that I need to eat. Like my body needs nourishment. And my small portions fill me up. Protein first, then vegetables, fruit......I know this is hard to imagine from where you are, so you'll have to take our word for it. Like I said, do a lot of research. I'm so happy I did this. My diabetes is greatly improved. From four injections a day to no meds at all! That alone makes it all worth it!

Well I've been in a stall for ages. It happens. I'm determined now more than ever to break it. Someone said to me " well your not losing any more weight are you?" This wasnt said out of spite, just on observation . But dang! It bummed me out. She was right though, I haven't . Well, my daughters just informed me that they are throwing us a 30 year anniversary party the last week of August! I can't believe we've been married 30 years! Anyway, I need to get going here. I went through my older posts, which I highly recommend. It reminded me of how far I've come. But I feel stalled mentally . Does that make sense to anyone? So what I'm asking for here is a pep talk! Dozens of pep talks! Arrrrrgh!!!

I have not lost anything in months. I'm afraid I expect to fail, and am cutting my own throat. I'm not doing as well as I'd like. My health as improved greatly, my quality of life. Although my husband and those close to me are great , I fear there are those who expect/ maybe even want me to fail. Just a hunch. I've always been the fat, emotional, easy to hurt, crap on forget....... I have to learn to let that all go. It's making me insecure. Any ideas?

I thought that I was feeling hunger several days after surgery. In hind sight, I think it was just new, rumbley feelings I was having. Plus, I was so sick of sweet things.....jello, pudding, pro shakes. All put together, it felt like hunger. Try not stress out. You'll adjust to the new feelings, and they will subside. I'm eight months out and never hungry. At least not physically. I get mental hunger....which is what got me here in the first place. And I also have times when I realize I need to eat. My body needs it, but I'm not hungry.

Has anyone had any muscle pain? I'm two months out. I first noticed a shin splint type pain out of nowhere. Hurts when I go to stand up. After a few steps I'm fine. Been a couple weeks now. Then, tonight out of nowhere, it feels like I have a pulled muscle on my inner thigh. I haven't done anything out of the ordinary. My thigh was fine an hour ago. Wierd. I'm gonna be sure to increase my H2o, and potassium . Just wondering if any of you know anything about it. Thanks, mendy

I thought this would be an encouraging thread. A reminder for those in stalls (me!) that success isn't just a number on the scale! 1) I'm off insulin with awesome blood sugar readings! 2) I've stopped snoring. My husband will check to be sure I'm breathing at night because I sleep so quite and sound 3) My energy has soared. Soared I tell you! I hand tilled the garden a couple days ago. 4) My husband can easily wrap his arms around me and cross them! 5) I am engaged in my life. Not on the sidelines anymore. 5)

Are you kidding? I have been in a stall for at least 5 weeks! I was sleeved 10/22/12 and lost 24 lbs in the first month. Since then I've lost one. One! I'm not putting on muscle either. But here's the thing...it's different this time. I'm not real happy about the stall, but I'm not panicked either. It has to change eventually. And I feel like a new woman! Hang in there.

So I'm eating dense protien now for several weeks. I can easily get my protien in with my shakes. When I eat 3 oz or so of meat I get that restricted feeling and it holds me for hours. But I am so sick of eating meat. Anyone have any ideas for another source of dense protien? Does a certain type of beans maybe stay longer in the new stomach? I want the restricted feel because its like a protection against even thinking of slider foods. Suggestions please.

I'm just about six weeks out. And my number one goal has been met! Today I had a blood sugar reading of 82! 82! I'm so happy. I'm a diabetic. A flaming diabetic. Before surgery I injected insulin four times a day, every day. My blood sugar was averaging 250 or so. A1c was 10.8. I felt so hopeless against this disease that at one time I was able to control. I feared the future. And the thought of not being here for my husband, children, and precious grandchildren tore me up.Well I have not taken any insulin since I got home from the hospital. None. And my readings have been so good. And then tonight my sugar was 82. Dang. I'm stunned.It's been 18 months since I've been any where near 100. Good health was my number one priority. I've only lost 24 pounds and nothing in the past several weeks. But that's ok. It will come off. But boy I feel good. My diabetes is well under control. I can't believe how emotional I am over this. Happy tears. H He

Ok, I felt prepared for the stall that I knew would come around week three. Well it came and it has yet to leave! I was sleeved 7 weeks ago and haven't lost anything in four weeks. Well, I gained two pounds then lost them again. I'm at twenty four pounds and feel great, but come on! I don't think I'm under eating, and I know I'm not over eating. I'm more active than I've been in years. I do need to increase my water. I know this is gonna work. If I was eating straight butter I couldn't eat enough to gain weight at this point!!

I never measured, but I am fitting into my older smaller clothes. In general I feel great. But the last several days I've thrown up several times. The slimies I kept hearing about. No fever or pain, just feel icky after I eat. Today I lost my lunch ( a few bite of mild home made chilli ) downtown, on the street. Not my finest moment!