Kabooboo

I got sleeved on June 28th, so I had most of the summer to recover. I did sub for summer school for one week 3 weeks after my surgery, and did fine but summer school was only half a day. Now I am back at work full time at 2 months out, and doing fine with lots of energy. I originally was thinking of having surgery over spring break and I'm glad I didn't. There is no way I could have gone to work after only a week or 10 days, but maybe some people could. It took me 2 months to regain my energy. Lots of fatigue the first 4 weeks after surgery. I took lots of naps.

On my plan I could have greek yogurt and pudding on full liquids. I could only eat a couple of tablespoons though.

I could have written this post. I am six weeks out today. I have lost 20 pounds, only 2 in the last 3 weeks. It's frustrating. I think I am doing things right, but now I am questioning everything. I worry that this surgery won't be successful, but I am definitely going down in size.

I thought long and hard about this, and I decided that I would only tell people that I have a close, personal relationship with. If they were there for me during my divorce, came to the funerals of my mother and father, I have a close enough relationship to share. If we regularly share intimate, personal details to each others about our lives, then I will tell them. Otherwise, our relationship isn't close enough to justify sharing such a personal decision I've made. So far I have told 3 close friends, my siblings, my 2 adult children, a neighbor who is a nurse that I am close to, and that's it. There are probably a couple more people I will tell when I see them. I feel comfortable with my plan. I am telling the people I tell about my plan, and I hope they honor my wishes of who I want to share news of my surgery with. I think we all have to do what feels comfortable to us. One thing I think about as I read these posts is that extroverts will usually tell everyone anything, and introverts only share with people they feel comfortable with. That may partially explain the differences in comfort levels with sharing.

Both were considered part of the Full Liquids part of my post-op plan from my surgeon. (sugar free of course) Every plan is different, but I think people often do "eat" them on the liquid part of their plan.

I take 2 a day since about 1 week out. My doctor approved it.

I thought that the pain was minimal, much less than I expected. Certainly nothing like childbirth. I found some of the sensations irritating, such as the dry mouth and odd sensations of drinking water with my new sleeve, but a surgeries go it was fairly easy. I had no gas pain at all. The fatigue was my biggest problem- the first week I was absolutely wiped out.

I just finished my 3 week stall finally. I had the same feelings as you- I'm not going to be successful at this. On the 14th day of the stall I lost a pound, and then another pound the next day. I'm not sure there is anything you can do but stick to your plan. It's discouraging, but we have to keep in mind that there are people who have lost more than 100 pounds in a year who had a 3 week stall just like us.

It's possible but I'm not sure from just drinking one, but to be on the safe side you need to call your surgeon asap and get medical advice from a professional. My surgeon's office gave me a number to call at any time to get in touch with someone even during off hours.

Are you tracking carbs/calories, what you eat on MyFitnessPal or something like it? I see a lot of carbs in that menu. It is not a low carb menu, not even close. I know that if I eat a high carb food I immediately gain 3-4 pounds- and I mean like I at 2 tablespoons of mashed potatoes and I gained 3 pounds. Bananas are one of the highest carb fruits you can eat, if not the highest if I recall. Peas are also a higher carb vegetable. There are better choices for fruits and vegetables. I would suggest cutting carbs back to less than 40 a day, maybe closer to 20-25. Many people who are really successful with the VSG follow that plan. 600-800 calories is a good range for weight loss. Just my opinion...You can do it! This is a journey not a race....

I get a massage every other week. I went for a massage 3 weeks after my surgery. I could maybe have gone earlier, but waited until I was positive I would be comfortable. I felt so good after it!

Syntrax matrix mint cookie- Many people claim it is by far the best protein shake they have ever tried. I agree- Absolutely decadent. Syntrax matrix also has some other chocolate flavors. I mix it with unsweetened almond milk. I look forward to it every day because I enjoy it so much.

I got my period one week post op, which was 2 weeks early. I am always like clockwork. It is very normal due to the hormonal changes and blood thinners. You may become irregular for a time during rapid weight loss.

I'll just add to the great list that UTGAL99 posted that the VSG keeps your pyloric valve intact and the RNY does not. Here are a couple of articles that explain some about that. http://www.lenoxhillhospital.org/press_releases.aspx?id=2106 http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/matrix/bt_supp0609/index.php?startid=5#/4 Also, the malabsorbtion of the RNY that many rely on to lose weight (my sister for one) means that people can loose a lot of weight in the first 18 months or so. Then, the body adjusts and the malabsorbtion goes away. If you haven't really learned how to eat and make lifestyle changes, you will start to regain, which my sister has experienced with the RNY. You will have vitamin malabsorbtion for life with the RNY. For me it was a no-brainer. I would not have gotten weight loss surgery at all if the RNY was my only option.

The first day was kind of hard, but not due to pain really. I found it hard because I was so knocked out by the drugs that I just wanted to sleep, but the nurses wanted me to drink some and walk some. I finally "woke up" and felt alert late on the 2nd day and then I felt much better. I didn't really have any gas pain, but many people do. I had a really dry mouth and was a little afraid to drink. It takes some getting used to! Ice chips helped. The first week was hard due to the fatigue and feeling so tentative and unfamiliar with drinking, plus getting in so few calories. I felt much better the 2nd week and it's been getting better every week. I am exactly one month out now. Best wishes to you for a quick recovery and lots of success with your VSG!

I had my VSG on June 28th. I had lost 37 pounds preop from the first week of March. In the first two-three weeks after surgery I lost 17 pounds. For the last 11 days I have been stalled, and actually went up a couple of pounds. I have read all about the 3 week stall and I knew to expect it. I know scientifically why it is happening. I am usually a calm, patient person. But this is starting to drive me nuts! I find myself doubting having the whole procedure. I wonder if this whole thing won't work. It irritates me that I lost all of the weight preop doing low carb with lots more calories and big portions and now I am not losing with this extreme diet. I am sticking to plan, getting in the fluids, getting about 80 grams of protein, usually around 40 carbs, 700-800 calories. I am still on the mushies stage for a few more days. I guess I need to know that other people have had this happen and everything ended up working out and the weight did come off.

Homegoods or TJ Maxx sometimes carries them for a really good price.

I got mine from mybariatricpantry.com. They may be available other places though. link : http://www.mybariatricpantry.com/Matrix_5_0_and_2_0_s/5.htm I have one of the mint cookie shakes every day and I think I will for the foreseeable future. I use unsweetened almond milk to make the shake.

Do you mean the GNC Go Lean? I have tried the Vanilla and Strawberry rtd shakes and think they are pretty good. I tried them because I read posts from several people who said they were their favorite of all protein shakes. I got really tired of them though when drinking them for like 3 weeks straight. Now I am drinking Syntrax Mint cookie protein shakes. So good they are almost decadent!

I was sleeved on June 28th. I am on full liquids until this Friday. I am also so tired of this! Nothing tastes good, nothing appeals to me. I now know what it means to just eat to live, just because I have to get nutrition. I am so looking forward to pureed food just so I can have something different.