suryfer

Hi Everyone....haven't been on here in a while but I really need help! I had my VSG surgery back on Feb. of this year and thank goodness everything has gone great! I have lost 40 lbs and I'm very active! I exercise a lot, I work a lot, and I go to school. However, unfortunately for me I have been stuck at 174 lbs for the last 2 months almost! I'm stuck and I won't lose. I eat pretty much everything but try my best to stay on the healthy side. I don't have any sodas, no fast food and no fried foods! I do however have a tiny bit of ice cream and a cookie from time to time but don't go overboard at all! I just think to myself how is it possible with all the exercise that I do that I still don't lose! I'm really stuck and I'm very scared and worried! My biggest fear is that my stomach has stretched! Has anyone gone through this situation? Is there any advise anyone can give me or any diet to follow? Help! :001_unsure: P.S. My friend had the surgery the same day as I did and she is now weighing 147 lbs!!! I feel so depressed!

Kara, I completely understand you, I was in your position a while back ago. I am 31 yrs old and have been battling with my weight all my life. The heaviest I got was 211 before my surgery and I'm only 5'1!!!! I did the personal trainer, I did the diets, I would kill myself at the gym, i would cry, I did phentermine and lost about 20 lbs, but guess what? Life changes, stress happens, you get a new job, etc. And I gained the weight back! In December of last year I reached a breaking point, I just couldn't stand being miserable anymore. Luckily, I did not have any major health issues, just a little high cholesterol. But I made the decision, and I only told 3 people!!! That's it! Because I knew that my own family was going to bring me down! I knew exactly what they were going to say and how they were going to react. I did extensive research and searched for a good doctor. I have to tell you, that I used up almost every penny in my savings account and on Feb. 11th of this year I had my surgery done. I don't regret it whatsoever!! It was the best thing I have ever done for myself! I have lost 23 lbs so far and I feel great! I'm exercising a lot and now am starting to feel so much more energized! So....bottom line, listen to yourself! Don't listen to all the negative comments! It is life changing, but it's for the better! I think you should go for it...just like Tiffy mentioned, you might lose a lot of weight with a trainer and diet, but the BIG problem is keeping it off for the rest of your life!!! Are you really going to pay a trainer for the rest of your life? Also, this forum has been a God-send for me! There are amazing people on here that are always there for you! Whenever you have a question or a worry, just turn to this forum and someone will always be there for you. Well, good luck, and please keep us updated. Take care, Sury

Hi Diane, As far as salads, I have not tried yet. My surgery was on Feb. 11th. However, as far as the hunger feeling, I definitely have those. It's an "empty stomach" feeling. I get them like 3 hrs after I eat. When I do it, it's no more then 4 oz and I feel full again. I will definitely take Tiffy's advice and switch to Prilosec instead of Pepcid. I'm hoping that will help.

Don't know how to exactly explain it, but sometimes the food's consistency isn't right. For example, the other day I made a tuna steak in the oven and I guess it came out a little too dry, so when I ate it, it felt rough/heavy going down my esophagus. It's not a painful feeling, just uncomfortable. I'm assuming this will go away with time. So when this happens to me, then I know I'm not ready yet to eat that type of food and I eat something "mushier". Hope this helps and hopefully other sleevers can relate and explain their experiences.

I'm so sorry about Lucy! Dogs are great lil creatures! I am an animal nurse and have 7 dogs who are our kids! I understand completely what you and your daughter are going through. It is very difficult They give unconditional love no matter what. Lucy is now in doggie heaven watching from above.

Hello Rossonmarcus! I was very nervous as well. Before my sleeve I had never had a surgery before so the anesthesia was freaking me out (I'm a nurse to, but for animals! hehehe...also in an ER). The day of my surgery I had to arrive at 6 am so they can put my IV in and prep me. I was moved to the pre-op area around 11 am and there they gave me an IV drug that they told me was going to relax me, but funny thing is that next thing I know I was waking up in recovery wondering what the hell had happened and asking for pain meds! hehehe....mind you, I have very low tolerance for pain. But like Tiffy mentioned above, the pain was most from gas. That same night after surgery, the nurses had me up and walking, because it's the best to relieve a lot of the gas discomfort. The pain in my abdomen, was more soreness. It felt like I had done 1 million sit-ups!! LOL...I was in the hospital for 2 days, on the first day I had a morphine drip and the second day they were giving me oral Vicaden (sp?) I know it's Hydrocodone with Tynenol (best sleep ever...hehe). After I was discharged I was on a full liquid diet for 2 weeks, then on to mushie stage for another 2 weeks. I could eat more normal food now, but at times some foods don't go down too well, so I go back to mushie, which I don't mind. Now I'm about 6 weeks post-op and I feel great, I went through a little stall with weight loss but started loosing again. Good Luck with your procedure and pre-op diet...you'll do great!

Good Luck Meesa! You're gonna do great! I was extremely nervous before my surgery but the day I went in, before I knew it I was waking up from surgery and on a morphine drip! Please keep in touch and give us updates.

I was sleeved on Feb. 11th and they also had me up and walking on the same day (I was very sore though...) After surgery I would try and walk at least 30 minutes daily. After my forth week I was feeling great and felt I could add a bit more intensity so I began to jog and do spinning classes. So far so good! I feel great! Although, I think it's normal to feel a little weak at first because your body is in shock from the change in eating habit and quantities, I did feel a bit sluggish and fatigue in the beginning, not now that's all gone! Take care and good luck!! Sury

I'm happy to report that the scaled number has CHANGED!!! WOOOHOOOO!!!! Finally! I actually stayed away from it for about 1 week and I weighed myself this morning and I lost almost 3 more pounds!!! Yay!!! Thank you for all the great advice! You guys are truly a blessing! I did mostly only Protein and a lot of exercise this week and I feel great!! I really do love my sleeve :thumbup:

Hi Tiffy! Thanks for the info. I'm not taking any antiacid because I never felt any reflux. I do have the chewable Pepcid my doctor told me to take at the beginning. As far as the hunger, what I feel is that empty stomach feeling. I guess because what I am eating is so little. I will try your suggestion and I'm also going to increase my exercise intensity a bit. And most important, will try my best not to weigh myself for 2 weeks! It's gonna be hard! Thanks!!

TnT and TexasT: Thank You for the great advice! I do have to admit that I am a slave to my scale and I know it's a horrible thing! I am taking it away from my room so that I don't have to look at it anymore. As far as eating, I will try to count my cals for 1 week just to make sure I'm on the right track. One question, do you every feel hungry? I do after my short meals and I'm worried that's not normal. Most peoples hunger just disappears! Mine is still there, but the only difference is that I eat 100 times less as before and it's something healthy. Another question, how many carbs would you recommend per day? Thanks! Sury

ok, so I've read about stalls before and now I'm going through one and I'm freaking out! I keep getting thoughts that my sleeve isn't working anymore! I really don't write down what my intake is but I make sure that I keep carbs to a minimal (20 grms or less) and high Protein low fat. I am 5 weeks out and have only lost 20 lbs! I've been stuck at 191 lbs for the last 2 weeks! I exerciase about 3-4 times per week. Could it be that I'm not intaking enough protein? Anyone else go through the same thing so early on?? Help! :smile: sury:blink::smile:

Tiffy, you look AMAZING!!!! You are such an inspiration, I've told you many times but I'll keep reminding you :smile: Thank You so much for all the advice you give all of us and helping us to just look forward and working hard to be successful with this sleeve. I am now 1 month post-op and down 20 lbs. I have just started working out with a little more intensity and I feel great! You ROCK!!!

Awesome!! Good for you! You look great! I am 1 month post-op and also feel great! I just started exercising a little more so that gives me even more energy :smile:

Ok, I'm having this craving to have a little piece of chocolate that it's killing me! I'm 3 weeks post-op and so far so good, except today I have this craving...has this happened to anyone? Would it be bad to have a little piece? Help!! :wink0: