MrsGina

Before my sleeve I would read every post I could, thinking I wanted to be well informed.
There are some ppl who just fly through this surgery perfectly.
Then there are those like me. I knew I was a high risk but ignored it. My surgery was on Jan 22nd, woke up in ICU, had to return cause drain area got infected. I went to a University hospital, had a very good surgeon and medical team, it just happened.
I'm saying all this cause things can go wrong, not everyone soars through with flying colors. I'm 3 weeks out and really not happy with my decision to get this done.
My hubby asked why I did it in the first place. Well, I lost 40lbs pre op, I wanted to use a plan that I could keep the weight off, my diabetes was so bad I was on a 5 times concentrated insulin, and I was the fattest girl in the room. Just for starters.
When you ask about recovery time, some will say 3 days, or longer. Some had super experiences some not so super.
When you ask about pain, some will say, no pain, some a lot of pain.
You can't put us all in a nice tidy folder and say this is how it is for everyone. We're all different and react differently.
So prepare for the worst and be blessed with the best. Have a good relationship with your surgeon and medical team. But don't think it's gonna be pain and complication free, I sure hope it is for you, just be prepared.
And keep your eyes wide open! Best of blessings to you and your journey!

Before my sleeve I would read every post I could, thinking I wanted to be well informed.
There are some ppl who just fly through this surgery perfectly.
Then there are those like me. I knew I was a high risk but ignored it. My surgery was on Jan 22nd, woke up in ICU, had to return cause drain area got infected. I went to a University hospital, had a very good surgeon and medical team, it just happened.
I'm saying all this cause things can go wrong, not everyone soars through with flying colors. I'm 3 weeks out and really not happy with my decision to get this done.
My hubby asked why I did it in the first place. Well, I lost 40lbs pre op, I wanted to use a plan that I could keep the weight off, my diabetes was so bad I was on a 5 times concentrated insulin, and I was the fattest girl in the room. Just for starters.
When you ask about recovery time, some will say 3 days, or longer. Some had super experiences some not so super.
When you ask about pain, some will say, no pain, some a lot of pain.
You can't put us all in a nice tidy folder and say this is how it is for everyone. We're all different and react differently.
So prepare for the worst and be blessed with the best. Have a good relationship with your surgeon and medical team. But don't think it's gonna be pain and complication free, I sure hope it is for you, just be prepared.
And keep your eyes wide open! Best of blessings to you and your journey!

Before my sleeve I would read every post I could, thinking I wanted to be well informed.
There are some ppl who just fly through this surgery perfectly.
Then there are those like me. I knew I was a high risk but ignored it. My surgery was on Jan 22nd, woke up in ICU, had to return cause drain area got infected. I went to a University hospital, had a very good surgeon and medical team, it just happened.
I'm saying all this cause things can go wrong, not everyone soars through with flying colors. I'm 3 weeks out and really not happy with my decision to get this done.
My hubby asked why I did it in the first place. Well, I lost 40lbs pre op, I wanted to use a plan that I could keep the weight off, my diabetes was so bad I was on a 5 times concentrated insulin, and I was the fattest girl in the room. Just for starters.
When you ask about recovery time, some will say 3 days, or longer. Some had super experiences some not so super.
When you ask about pain, some will say, no pain, some a lot of pain.
You can't put us all in a nice tidy folder and say this is how it is for everyone. We're all different and react differently.
So prepare for the worst and be blessed with the best. Have a good relationship with your surgeon and medical team. But don't think it's gonna be pain and complication free, I sure hope it is for you, just be prepared.
And keep your eyes wide open! Best of blessings to you and your journey!

Before my sleeve I would read every post I could, thinking I wanted to be well informed.
There are some ppl who just fly through this surgery perfectly.
Then there are those like me. I knew I was a high risk but ignored it. My surgery was on Jan 22nd, woke up in ICU, had to return cause drain area got infected. I went to a University hospital, had a very good surgeon and medical team, it just happened.
I'm saying all this cause things can go wrong, not everyone soars through with flying colors. I'm 3 weeks out and really not happy with my decision to get this done.
My hubby asked why I did it in the first place. Well, I lost 40lbs pre op, I wanted to use a plan that I could keep the weight off, my diabetes was so bad I was on a 5 times concentrated insulin, and I was the fattest girl in the room. Just for starters.
When you ask about recovery time, some will say 3 days, or longer. Some had super experiences some not so super.
When you ask about pain, some will say, no pain, some a lot of pain.
You can't put us all in a nice tidy folder and say this is how it is for everyone. We're all different and react differently.
So prepare for the worst and be blessed with the best. Have a good relationship with your surgeon and medical team. But don't think it's gonna be pain and complication free, I sure hope it is for you, just be prepared.
And keep your eyes wide open! Best of blessings to you and your journey!

Thank you for this. I think that with all the awesome results you see from people on here it's "easy" to forget that this is in fact a life changing surgery! It's SURGERY! There are hundreds of things that could go wrong at any time for any reason. It's nice to have a reality check every once in a while.
I hope that someday you will not regret your decision and that you continue to lose with no more complications. Good luck!

As the other's have said it is definitely normal. I actually slept sitting up in a recliner for the first 2 to 3 weeks because it hurt to much to lay down and I was afraid of rupturing the internal sutures. You might want to speak to your dr. about it anyhow though just to be safe. Good Luck

Back on clear liquids, was able to get rid of some gas. And Prayed A lot, thank you Jesus!
Had a good cry and a nap. Feeling better.
I may be expecting to feel great too soon, just seems so many ppl on here bounce back really fast. I must be a slow bouncer.

Please don't make me laugh, it still hurts. Lol

I was sleeved on the same day. I was advised to go backwards in the diet if I start feeling like that, so I think you are smart to do the same.

Back on clear liquids, was able to get rid of some gas. And Prayed A lot, thank you Jesus!
Had a good cry and a nap. Feeling better.
I may be expecting to feel great too soon, just seems so many ppl on here bounce back really fast. I must be a slow bouncer.

I feel exactly the same way. I was sleeved in the 21st. No advice, but a lot of sympathy.

You're smart to go back to liquids...that's what my NUT told me to do if something bothered my stomach. Try again in a few days. Your stomach is still healing: think about what a 10 inch incision and staple line would feel like on your calf...it would be uncomfortable to walk for couple of weeks and you wouldn't consider going jogging. It will get better soon. Best of luck to you and congratulations on your new sleeve!

I can remember not sleeping well for a few weeks after surgery, was very tired took a nap or two. I made homage Soups because I couldn't handle the Protein Drinks. I did find moist fish was ok, eggs were not and sugar free popsicles were my best friend It got a little easier each day. Part of my sleep issues and fatigue were from my thyroid being off. I had to double my dosage and feel better a month after it was increased.
Best luck on your journey!
Sent from my iPad using VST

Simply marvelous!

One other option is your pain management, if I take toridol I have this horrible anxiety attack. Just how I react to that certain med.
Hope it gets better for you.

Hehehe...

I'm so sorry to hear that work is giving you a hard time. You know what is best for you, so just politely tell them that you thank them for their concern but you know what's best for your health. I hope you have a better day at work tomorrow.

...that any time a person shares a negative experience their honesty is called into question.
We do not question the people that hop on VST immediately after starting a new account to rave about losing 120 pounds, do we?
Guess what? One percent (or more, depending on what stats you're reading) have complications. Many more than that have a rotten time healing, or a horrible time eating, or don't lose as much weight as they want.
Do not expect them to be cheerful, happy and bright while experiencing a personal hell they likely thought would never happen to them. It doesn't matter if they knew it *could* happen. Nobody thinks they'll be the one percent! (And "Nobody expects the Spanish Inquisition!") It's wrong to constantly cast the blame on the person experiencing less than satisfactory results, too.
Really, lots of people succeed on Weight Watchers. Should we be calling everyone that doesn't (i.e., every one of us sleevers) a failure and chastise them for eating in a way we don't consider "perfect" or ideal? Should we turn around and tell them how we've had fantastic results and if they haven't, they aren't trying hard enough?
Because honestly, that's exactly what ticked me off the most about my doctors and "friends" prior to surgery. Why do people that couldn't lose traditionally insist on applying a one-size-fits-all mindset to life post sleeve, when it didn't work for them prior?
Guess what? Not everyone posts here daily, or has a fully fleshed out profile. Again, to call only those that post negative experiences to account for this is unfair.
It's offensive and off putting to see people get into actual internet brawls over these things. It detracts from the overall value of a thread if I have to read through ten pages of people calling each other names and calling the OP a liar before finding the one or two actually useful things in the thread.
Lately I've seen several threads where as soon as someone dares to share a negative experience, they're called a liar or a fake.
That's pretty darn hostile, and an awfully quick judgment to make.
Any one of us could realistically be fakes. This is social media, people!
I, personally, feel that negative experiences are just as vital and important to these boards as positive ones. People researching the sleeve need to know all possible outcomes. Complications are ACCIDENTS and could happen to even the most skilled surgeon. People suffering after choosing this surgery should also have a place to share and vent, the same way people that are grumpy about a three day "stall" are given the ability to do so. Making this place hostile for the people that choose to share their negative experiences is detrimental to the community at large.
And I find it offensive.
It's one thing to be frustrated with people for posting the same things or for failing to do their research (things I, myself, have been guilty of venting about here), but to attack people for simply sharing their own experience is taking it a bit far in my opinion.
And I have a lot of opinions. And of course, I'm always right.
~Cheri

I don't understand why anyone would consider saying something as false. It just doesn't make sense. We don't know what they've gone through. And what's up with this, 9/11 caused me to fake my vsg complications. It's insane but I guess I can understand if people are afraid and don't want to believe it. I mean we all need help.

You both look fabulous. It's so nice to see such a happy couple, just thankful to be together. I hope you guys have many, many more years to enjoy each other, and your new, smaller bodies!
~Cheri

Thanks so much to all of you!!!
She is the one who got us started on this, I was dead against it. A friend at work had RNY and got her interested. When a support meeting turned me 180 degrees I liked the sound of the sleeve better, I felt that after cancer I needed all the nutrients I could get and didn't need the malabsorption afforded by RNY. Her being her and me being me, we both did what we thought best. It turned out to be right for both of us.
You know, after we took some of the after pictures this morning and I was trying to post them it was pretty slow. My Debbie kept interrupting me because she was changing clothes and having me take more pictures of her in different outfits. This from a gal who used to dread having her picture taken or looking in a mirror. I love it when she loves herself and happiness shines from her face. It is not arrogant pride but a sense of triumph I see. She conquered the great enemy of her life. She makes me think I am quite a guy to have the love of such a wonderful woman.

http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2013/jan/28/marathon-runner-mark-noel/
Shortly after this story was published, I was contacted by NPR to participate in a round table discussion. During the course of the 45 minutes we were on the air, we discussed my journey and whether weight loss surgery was the answer for many people. I was on with the head of UCLA's Bariatric Surgery unit and discussed the VSG and other options for people with weight issues. As soon as the podcast is available, probably tomorrow, I'll post a link to it and you can down it.
It was hard to come 'out of the closet' to tell everyone about my surgery. Even now there are comments that somehow I'm weak for having the surgery and not doing this on my own. As the doctor on the show pointed out, 97-99% of the people who try to do this on their own without surgery will fail and likely gain even more weight. Without addressing all the issues, you are setting yourself up for failure.
Enjoy my story...
Mark
(massindex)

Lately I've seen a TON of posts about lucky sleevers that drop 100 pounds in six months.
Congrats to them and to their loss. And I would never, ever begrudge anyone the right to crow about a fantastic success. It's part of why we're all here, to share the ups and downs of this surgery!
But frequently, these posts are followed by folks that feel frustrated because they aren't losing at the same pace. All too often, we forget that everyone loses at a different pace. It's easy to lose sight of the real goal (long term maintenance) in the face of the scale goals we set for ourselves. And it's also easy to forget that this isn't a race and that there's no special prize waiting at the end for reaching goal more quickly.
I would like to contribute my loss pattern so that people can see that there is more than one way to achieve a goal. Being successful is about reaching your personal goals, overcoming your personal food demons and maintaining your weight loss for life. It's not about hitting goal in nine months.
I encourage everyone else with a slow loss story to contribute their successes here as well. It's hard to research this surgery and find only the stories about extremes - people completely thrilled with surgery or people that regret every minute of life post op. The same goes for loss. When people search out stories on this, it's too easy to only find rapid loss or stall posts but nothing showing the more realistic and moderate journey many of us take. The sleeve is a permanent tool that does not have a special window of easy weight loss. There is no reason to feel discouraged when you haven't reached goal at one year out, or even two. There is nothing preventing you (short of your own body's natural stopping point) from achieving or re-achieving goal at any point post op.
I lost 60 pounds in the first five months after my surgery.
And I slowly lost 32 pounds over the next seven months.
It took me another five months to shed the final 15 pounds to my goal.
I lost 107 pounds over the course of 17 months. I stalled twice for nine weeks each time. I had months where I only lost one pound. I regularly experienced a gain of three pounds around my cycle, and often only lost weight in the last week to ten days of the month, after sitting at the same weight for nearly three weeks.
I am a success, and at 2.5 years out (and currently pregnant) I still have good, healthy eating habits and maintained my weight loss quite easily. Even 30 weeks pregnant, I am still wearing a size 6/small (in maternity clothes, of course) regardless of how I feel about my expanding body!
I learned what was important on this journey and am in better health today (not just physically, but mentally and emotionally), than I have ever experienced as an adult.
Good luck to those currently on their journey, and I encourage everyone to share their stories here so that newly sleeved folks can see that slow vs. fast loss doesn't really matter in the end.
~Cheri

I was sleeved on the 22nd as well and no bm for me either. Today is the first day to pass gas and am very happy to do it. Lol. Never thought farting would make someone so excited and boy am I excited.

I was sleeved on the 22nd as well and no bm for me either. Today is the first day to pass gas and am very happy to do it. Lol. Never thought farting would make someone so excited and boy am I excited.