sramos89

I am six months out and have noticed I can eat more and am hungry more. I am happy with my weight loss and don't really care if I lose more. Maybe I am just paranoid but I know people can gain weight after this sugery and I know this is just a tool. Losing this weight has been so easy and quick for me that I am scared and kind of waiting for the other "foot to drop" so to speak. Do I need to go on a diet now? I weigh everyday and have not gained any yet but I am so scared. I love my new life and I don't want that monkey on my back again.

i am struggling with head hunger too and I am noticing a carb connection. I am trying to keep my caloried below 1000 a day. I do great in the morning, starting off with premeir protein shake for breakfast and a meat/cheese/lettuce roll up for lunch but by 2 pm I am craving carbs BAD and it goes downhill from there. I did great last week by adding pb and celery snacks in the afternoon. I have been snacking on dried apricots as well, is that causing more cravings? I don't understand why sometimes it is so easy to keep that monster undercontrol and sometimes it kicks my butt!

Lucky, I agree with what Kristina said to you. You are still in the healing phase of this process. I am only 6 months out but it seems like way more than that- I too, thought my life was over when everyone went to Whataburger after a sporting event and I had NOTHING! I went to the bathroom and cried! Who does that? A food addict! This is only a short period of time. Today in fact we had softball practice and the team went to eat after and I could have eaten anything I wanted. If I ordered a big burger or something fried I would have felt sick later tonight, so I ordered a grilled chicken salad, and not because I was on some stupid "diet of the month" but because that was really what I wanted. I ate a couple or few of my husbands fries and I am totally full and happy. I promise you did not make a mistake! Give it some time- you are going to feel so good. BTW I was a size 22 during. My Whataburger fit 6 months ago and today I am a size 12. You can do this!! Focus on what is really portent to you! You will feel better than normal again!

I am almost to my goal weight and am thrilled to be in a size 12. I do not wish to be a size 6 - having said that. Why can't I be happy with this body and size? Today when I bought a new pair of shorts I held them up and thought "those sure look small" then went home and thy slipped right on. Why do I still feel big? Is it because I lost so fast? Is size 12 to big to decide to maintain? I hope this qualifies as a vet question. Thank you!

Diet Coke was my vice pre- sleeve, I would drink 100 oz or more everyday. It was a bad habit. It was awful detoxing off of it during my pre-op diet, headaches and cravings. I have replaced it with unsweetended iced tea and water. I am almost 6 months post op and I would never consider adding that back to my diet. I guess had it not been such a big and negative issue for me than maybe one here or there would be okay but one was never enough and I don't want to take the chance that I develop that habit again. There is no value in that choice for me anymore.

They were giving free samples at SAMs today and they were sweet- like a candy bar with 15g of protein and 170 calories so I thought it would be good on occasions when I need something sweet and it feels like I ate a pound of rocks in my stomach right now! Anyone else try these? Do you like them?

Nothing! You are fine- I was hungry and could eat it all UNTIL I was able to eat solid protein- chicken and steak and then even a tiny bit made me feel stuffed! So hang on- you just need solid protein to feel the restriction. The soft food will "slide" right threw your pyloric valve. The solid protein will cause it to close and you will feel the restriction. (as told to me my by bariatric peeps!)

I had a hard time with protein too. I do better now, I start each day with a pre-made premier protein from Sam's or Costco- they are $18 for 12 but they are the only ones I can tolerate and now they taste like chocolate milk to me- it just takes time to get used to the texture and flavor. But they have 30 grams of protein and help me get a start on my protein for the day. Find any protein drink you like and make yourself get used to it.

My first thought was that it was a lack of a vitamin. I started having seizures when I was 29 years old. I was put on meds and told "there is still a lot about the brain we don't know" I still take the meds and we still don't know why I had a seizure. You might never know either. I don't know that I would blame the surgery unless you are low on a vitamin or enzyme- I hope you get some answers soon. I know it is so scary. I have been on the meds 12 years and it's okay now.

Artsong, Have you had your labs done? Sometimes if something is off it will slow you down. It could be Vit. D or something.

I agree! This was so hard for me but I think one of the most important habits to master to keep our weight off! I can do it now without effort! There are tricks, at a restaurant ask for your water in a to go cup that way there is a lid on it and if you leave before your 30-45 minutes have passed you have your drink to take with you. Keep working at it, if I can do it- you can!

It is a long journey- It can take months. But unless you are self pay, what are your other choices? In six months you could be approved and preparing for surgery or you could be overweight and unhappy. Surgery is a huge undertaking and I didn't mind all of my appointments or "hoops" I had to jump threw- I was happy to do it and I am happy to have had the surgery. I say stick with it if you really think this surgery will help you. This is not a quick fix and neither is the process.

I was starving dairy or no dairy, until I ate a piece of meat. It was the only thing that made me feel satisfied. Hang in there- real food is coming and in hindsight it was such a short time period. It just doesn't feel that way when you are going through it. It won't last forever and you will eat like a "normal" person again! Hang in there!

My tastes didn't change, I still like the same things. The pre and post op diet are the worst part. It is very hard to get the required amount of liquids and protein in during the liquid/mushy stage. My doctor knew this and just wanted me to try. I also like the Premier Protein from Sam's. I went to our local health foods store and bought a bunch of samples to see which one I liked the best. Find that one you can tolerate and you will get used to it. I never used the protein broth or anything.

All is not lost, your sleeve can still work for you. It is simple- Protein and Protein first. Whenever I feel like I might have gotten off of the path I go back to lean protein and make sure I eat it first. It always fills me up, I eat less and then I see it on the scale. Make sure you are drinking enough to stay hydrated so you don't mistake thirst for hunger. The "fall" pre- sleeve is so much shorter than "post" sleeve- I think you will be amazed how easy it is get back on track. You said it right, it is just a tool- but it is an amazing tool! Don't waste it- work it! You are not upsetting or putting anyone out but yourself. What size shorts are you going to wear this summer? It won't matter to me if you wear a size 20 or 10, but I bet it matters to you! You can do this!

You are really in the worst part and in a couple weeks you will be great! Plus lighter! Here is my two cents for what it is worth! You need gas x strips- You are starving and you will be hungry until 3 or 4 weeks out when they let you have a piece of chicken or solid protein. You will eat normal again. I promise! When you look back this will seem like such a short time in your long journey. When I was going threw it I was so mad, I was hungry and actually cried at Whataburger when the whole team got food and I got... nothing! I was ticked off! Well now, I am 63 pounds lighter and when we go I get the grilled chicken and a couple fries or a kids cheese burger and take off the bun and a couple fries and I am completely happy and satisfied! I could eat the bun if I wanted it but I don't. I could eat more fries but I don't want them. You will be fine. It is okay to be hungry and mad now. I was. It is not forever. I wish someone would have told me that! So happy for you!

Sounds very typical. I would just make sure you follow up. When I was going threw my process I was a total NAG- I very nice and sweet and polite nag but I called every day! I wasn't going to fall threw any crack! Good Luck to you!

I was at Forrest park in sept. it was a great facility with great care. My husband came with me for the surgery , they do a wonderful job of communicating with your family with a digital patient information board in the lobby and pagers. I don't know how long I was in recovery but the assistant went and told my husband when he should leave to go eat and what time he should come back to check in. There is a Whataburger right next door they can go eat. Hope that helps.

Research your doctor, I picked a great doctor and all he does is bariatrics. His leak rate is less than 1%. I had a pretty low bmi and am a mom. I didn't want to toss all of that a way on an elective surgery but I knew in my heart that this was not an elective surgery for me. I knew my issues with my weight and food were keeping me from living my best life and would ultimately take my health and life. I am 5 months post op- down 62 lbs and healthier and happier than I have ever been. This is not without risk, but neither is getting out of bed each day. Do your research, educate yourself like iggychick suggests and if this is your last resort to lose weight then do it. It was mine.

I had a desk job and took two weeks but could have gone back in one- but if you are lifting or rolling patients and on your feet all shift you are going to need a lot more! Like 4-6 weeks. Talk to your doctor unless they will put you on desk/ paperwork. You will probably feel okay after a week but no lifting!!

Sometimes our doctors don't prepare us for first few weeks after surgery. It is major surgery and you need time to recover but being sore, sick and miserable during recovery is one thing, regretting having this life changing tool is another. The week before and two weeks after were hard, but not hell. I would do it again. If you want to know hell have a hemerroidectomy- a lovely surgery that I got to experience in my 30's somewhat due to being overweight and eating awful food. Trust me you aren't going to regret this surgery when you cut up your Lane Byant card and the first time you buy size 10!! Two really good days for me! Keep your eye on the prize.

I decided to help coach my daughters softball team- I would have NEVER done that at my pre-op weight. I love being able to help her and not be winded and embarassed.

I get them ALL the time now- I think it happens when I have eaten too much! Because they happen after a meal. Just my thoughts!