Miriam

I've been having the same issue for the last several months (I'm eight months post-op). My blood tests are all fine, and I'm drinking, so my NUT told me that it's most likely a result of the rapid weight loss (I did lose pretty fast but now it's slowed down a lot) - that that's a real trauma for the body and it needs time to recover. Not what I wanted to hear, but hopefully that means that eventually I will bounce back. Unlike some WLS patients, I never had energy problems pre-op, so it's really hard to deal with this issue now that I'm so much thinner and should be brimming with energy.

I see that I'm not as bad as some of you guys (thank goodness, as I had thin hair to begin with) but yeah, 8 months post-op and hair is still coming out fast and furiously. I keep on joking that someone has to turn off the hair generating machine in the bathroom, which also tends to spread hairs around all the other areas of the house... The funny thing is that I've actually gotten lots of compliments on my most recent haircut, even though my hair has thinned out so much - it isn't really different from previous haircuts, so my theory is that because my face is so much thinner (I finally have cheekbones!), the cut just looks more flattering. But the compliments do go a long way to making me feel better about my ever-thinning hair.

It was definitely hard and at eight months post-op, I still don't feel that I'm quite there. At first, it was trying to get my brain wrapped around the fact that two or three small bites equaled fullness and any more would make me totally sick. At this point, I'm much better (not perfect) with the portion control, but then again I can get down somewhat larger portions than I could before, so that helps. But I did think that I had nailed what types of food to eat and what foods to avoid - unfortunately, I've recently discovered that the "food monster" aka "carb monster" still lurks inside me and that I've got to work hard to keep it under control. Since I can get down WAY more carbs than protein (alas, I've discovered that there are quite a number of sliders down there) and I do have an increased appetite and capacity as compared to the first few months after surgery, I really have to work hard to keep that monster under control and show him who's the boss. In short, changing eating habits is not quite as simple as it might seem in the first few months after surgery, but certainly easier than pre-op. The most important thing is to be aware of everything you put in your mouth and cut your losses as quickly as possible when you do lapse into old habits. And NOT spend too much time dwelling on mistakes - just reaffirming goals and moving back to the right path.

I exercised only sporadically for the first six months or so post-op and lost very nicely. But I knew that I DID have to exercise more, and finally started applying myself at around six-seven months post-op. I've found this to be extremely beneficial, especially in regards to changing shape - officially I'm already in normal BMI range (but I have very light bones) and around 25 lbs. away from my goal weight - weight loss has slowed down considerably, especially since my appetite has increased, but with the right exercise my body is continuing to trim down. So like others who have posted here, I do encourage you to find something that you enjoy doing and stick with that.

It really depends on what type of exercise style you like. I tried one of Jillian's and found the fast pace really challenging (although I like her very much) - but then, I'm not very much into aerobics to begin with. I do like Leslie Sansone, but my favorites for toning are callentics and the Bar Method (Change Your Body is their most beginner program - not easy at all, but definitely doable, and boy, does it work wonders).

I DON'T manage everything, to be honest. I only eat 4 meals a day (my NUT wants 5, but can't manage it) but sometimes I need to wait 60-90 minutes after eating to drink (especially after dense proteins) because otherwise it all comes up. So, yeah, I'm having some trouble getting it all in. But I'm trying to get as much fluid in as possible because yeah, dehydration is a much more immediate concern than not always getting in my multivitamins. Good luck with that!

Wait a bit longer - I was like this more or less the the whole first two months post-op (with odd moments where I suddenly did have head hunger), but at some point the food dreams did start. So you never know what might still happen...

I have the same issue with my back - instead, I do isometrics, and specifically callanetics and the Bar method (just started the Bar method and LOVE it) - if you like slow, controlled movements, these are fantastic and can really sculpt your muscles. Highly recommended!

Very possible - and I hope so, too. She's had so many ups and down - diagnosed with Stage 4 of one of the worst cancers out there, chemo + remission + return of cancer + chemo + remission + return of cancer + chemo + remission + return of cancer, etc. etc. - you get the picture. I think she's had chemo (each time lasting several months) 6 or 7 times in the last 7 or 8 years, as well as one period where she got radiation as well. She's still doing her best to beat it, and believe me that I doubt I'd be as optimistic and cheerful at this stage as she is - I had a much easier form of cancer to deal with around 12 years ago, and that one time was WAY more than enough for me. So yeah, I can only sympathize and pray for her recovery.

I'm 5'2" but with very light bones (as is my mother) so as low as my goal weight might seem, I'm pretty sure that's the right (albeit slightly optimistic) weight for my body. Highest weight (which is pretty much what it was the day of surgery): 225 lbs. Goal weight: 105 lbs. Am around 2/3 of the way there, but still have lots of negative thoughts as to whether I will make it and be able to maintain it or not.

It's possible. But we're actually really close and she's been through a LOT the past few years (multiple rounds of chemo, etc.) so I can cut her lots of slack that I wouldn't do for others.

Yeah, get the smaller size. You'll get there soon enough. I was lucky enough to have clothes all the way down to a size 14s, but now I've gone on a shopping spree and bought clothes for the next few sizes (I didn't want to go past a certain size because no idea if I'll get there, but I thought that 8 was a reasonable size to aim for - I hope!).

Wow, that's really poor. Makes my doctor look great, and I'm not that thrilled with him (but where I am, my options are extremely limited so I made the choice to stick with him for better or for worse). If I were you, I would send the doctor a registered letter with bulleted points about all the issues you've been having. He may never read it, but maybe his staff will actually take note and change their ways (probably being overly optimistic here, but never mind...).

Losing around 40 lbs. (the most I'd ever managed to lose by far) and then gaining it all back within a year or two plus another 20 lbs. (and that number kept going up) for good measure. I felt like I just couldn't do it - my whole life I've dreamt of finally conquering my weight issues and one day being a really small size (and staying there), but I finally realized that under normal circumstances, it just wasn't going to happen. In tha time period, a family acquaintance called my mother- he, his wife, and kids were all always massively obese, and they all had DS (wonder if they got a family rate?) and were all doing amazingly well. He and his wife were finally able to fly abroad (before that they would have needed 2 or maybe 3 seats) to the country we live in and that's when they gave us a call. My mother told me all about his call and suggested that I might want to look into it - till then WLS had never crossed my mind (I never thought I was heavy enough for it, and I actually wasn't really until that last weight loss + subsequent gain) but after thinking about it and researching the whole thing for quite a while, decided that this was probably the only option left for me. When the surgeon saw all my bloodwork etc. and informed me that I was in pre-diabetic stage, I knew that I had made the right choice.

I'm so sorry to hear about your horrible experience - this is every patient's worst nightmare, I think. In the hospital, when I saw how negligent some of the staff was I got so scared about coming back if something happened and just prayed that my recovery go smoothly, but what you've undergone is something I never even dared contemplate or I probably wouldn't have gone through the surgery in the first place. Wishing you a safe and speedy recovery from here on in, and please keep us updated on your condition.

Yeah, it's already happened a few times - I FELT like I was already ready for the next size, but my body told me differently, and sometimes it seemed like forever till I got down that half size. But it DOES eventually happen, it's just very annoying till it does. It's funny, though, this thing with perception of what size we are. I'm currently on vacation in another country and the people who are seeing me now haven't seen me since last summer (pre-op and at my heaviest then). Anyway, I've gotten some really flattering reactions, but the relative whom I staying with has been really funny about the whole thing. I was talking about going shopping at a bunch of different stores (for clothes, what else?) and when someone mentions a specific store, she says, "Oh, you won't find anything your size there, don't bother." I'm like, "But I told you I'm almost fitting into a size 12" (which the store definitely does carry), and she says, "Sorry, sorry, I didn't mean to insult you." Okay, fast forward ten days or so and today she hands me a discount coupon for a large size clothing website - technically I could still order their smallest size (12W) and it would probably still fit me for the next 2 weeks or so, but really, I was a little annoyed because at this point I think it's pretty clear that I'm shopping in the regular departments now (such a lovely experience, I must say). I'm going to put it down to a faulty memory because her memory really is quite bad, but still, her eyesight isn't as far as I know But I digress. I can't wait to REALLY fit into the size 12s since my 14s are all really baggy on me, so yes, I do feel your pain - but as I said, this happened when I went from 18 to 16 and from 16 to 14, so trust me, you WILL get there.

Wow, wishing you luck in maintaing a healthy weight for you. I've still got around 35 lbs. to lose to my goal weight (which I don't think will make me look gaunt, but I guess I won't know till I hit it because I've never been there before, to the best of my knowledge) but I do see why you are concerned about this issue. Good luck and let us know how things go with the Carnation and Ensures.

Thanks - very cool! Some of the questions were indeed tricky, but somehow I managed an 18/20, so not too bad

Thanks so much for this, Suzanne. I'm almost 6 months post-op, and it's so good to hear the perspective of an "old-timer."

I've been trying out lots of different drink powders and unfortunately I'm not really crazy about most of the flavors. I've decided to give away the ones I particularly don't like and hope there's someone out there who does like them - the flavors are listed below. Just PM me and I'll respond to the first person / people - I'll be happy to cover the postage within the U.S. (I'll be sending whatever packets I have without the boxes to reduce shipping costs), but I'd prefer to do it ASAP as I'm leaving the country in a few days. Crystal Light to Go - Cherry Pomegranate, Fruit Punch 4C Light to Go - Lemonade Target house brand - grape Lipton Light to Go - strawberry-acai

I can't get that down almost 6 months out! So yeah, I think you're eating enough

I'm in the same boat as you - six months out but still not usually eating more than I was eating two or three months ago, which is maybe 1/4 cup of food at a time, never more than 4 times a day (if I try to get in more, I get very, very sick and miserable). I don't have a problem eating supper, but my Breakfast is usually super-small. As PdxMan said, this IS a challenge - for me it's probably the biggest challenge as I'm still having a hard time mentally coping with these amounts - I have always been a volume eater, naturally blessed with a big appetite and also having that increased by meds, but most of all just enjoying the taste of food. So now, having just a few bites and feeling full, I always feel like "but I didn't have a chance to enjoy it at all," not to mention that I always have to be super-alert to that full feeling (because as I said, I get very sick very quickly) which also takes away from the enjoyment. But I'm slowly getting there. On the one hand, I keep telling myself that I should be happy because this super-restriction is surely part of the reason why I'm losing weight so quickly. On the other hand, I really long for the day that I can just have double the capacity that I do now. K also worry about nutrition, as you do. And a teeny-tiny part of me (very teeny, because despite all the weight I lost, I still can't picture myself at goal) worries - and simultaneously hopes - that I'll hit goal and keep losing because the way I am now, there is no way I can up my calories to the number needed for maintenance. If this sounds all messed up, well, hey, it is, but I'd venture to say that most of us have had to cope or are still coping with all kinds of issues related to food and weight loss. Just my two cents worth...

How do you even GET IN 200 grams of protein and 300 grams of carbs a day? I'm not quite six months post-op, so a bit behind you, but I still can't get in 60 grams of protein a day, let alone 200! I know I should sympathize with you more, but I'm still trying to get over my jealousy at your problem - no offense, but all my life I've dreamed of having a metabolism where I couldn't put on weight no matter what I did! Seriously, as others have posted, you should definitely speak to your doctor and have bloodwork done. There may even be medical reasons for weight loss or lack of weight gain unrelated to the sleeve, which I once found out in a not so pleasant way. So this should be checked out ASAP.

I took it for about 3 months, tried to stop and like you, had major issues - I basically threw up everything I put into my mouth, including liquids. So now I'm back on it, although my doctor isn't too happy with that - he seems to think that at this stage (almost 6 months post-op) I should no longer need it, but I definitely do. Every morning I wake up with my stomach gurgling and unsettled, and it only calms down after taking my daily dosage. So I have no idea when I'll be able to get off it, but this seems to be a small price to pay in the greater scheme of things.

Dunno - just can't. I'm five months out - just went to a restaurant the other day. Ordered one of my favorite dishes - their lunch special of beef and broccoli with rice on the side (smaller portion than dinner but still quite big) and asked for it "to go" so I could just eat a little bit out of the container rather than having to bother with them wrapping up the leftovers afterwards. I ate a few small pieces of beef, one or two pieces of broccoli, and a few small bites of rice and felt absolutely horrible afterwards - even after throwing up most of it I was terribly sick till this morning. I thought I had gotten past that stage of constantly throwing up but clearly my I overate, and really overate. Today I had a LITTLE of the leftovers - one small piece of beef, a few stalks of broccoli, a few bites of rice - and still felt uncomfortably full. So yeah, unless I eat slider foods (ice cream for me) or really high calorie foods there is no way I'm getting past 600-900 calories a day. On the one hand, it's frustrating to still feel so restricted, but on the other hand it's good. I just have to remind myself that it's good