BKLYNgal87

Do you have a fever, even a low grade one? I very much doubt forgoing the vitamins for 2 days would result in your current predicament. Definitely get to your doctor's office. You know your body better than anyone, and if something feels not right you need to get it addressed ASAP.

I also think it's important to remember that just because a surgeon has an MD degree doesn't mean he or she practices medicine. Most of their job is cutting and sewing - not medicine. There is no legitimate medical reason for banning NSAIDs [taken in moderation] for life unless you have an ulcer condition. Do you have any idea how much ibuprophen you'd have to take to cause a "bleeding ulcer" that wasn't already there? Enough that you'd be in the hospital already for an overdose.

Untrue. NSAIDs should not be taken for 2-3 weeks post-op because of bleeding risk. When you're healed up it's fine to take them.

Hmm since you posted this in the gastric sleeve forums I guess I'll give my take. Every surgeon is different. Mine said no alcohol for at least 30 days post-surgery. I have had the occasional wine or cocktail since then. For sleeve and bypass patients especially (can't speak for band patients) alcohol absorption is more rapid, which causes you to get tipsy quicker. Drinking more than you can tolerate is not something I would recommend, not just because of the anatomical change from surgery, but because you'll be making yourself more vulnerable in social situations and you'll have less control in advocating for yourself. For me one stiff drink is enough. But I don't plan on imbibing much these days. It's empty calories and I'm having a tougher and tougher time with the weight loss the closer I get to goal. I think with moderation it's okay, just be wary of cross-addiction, as it does occasionally happen to bariatric patients.

I drank CAFFEINATED - never will do decaf, ever - coffee 1 week post op and have been drinking it every day since. Just because something is recommended (giving up caffeine post surgery) doesn't mean it's actually medically necessary. But I don't count coffee in my daily water intake. It can be a diuretic for me, so I drink to compensate.

You look SO amazing, girl!! I'm inspired! Love that sweater dress too

Lyndsey, Thank you from the bottom of my heart for sharing your sister's story. You are absolutely right, her voice needs to be heard. I am so sorry for your family's loss.

Okay, don't take my remarks as being mean, take them as tough love. You are making a lifelong change to your body. But this surgery isn't going to be your magic cure. YOU have to be your cure, especially once you get past the first few months. I am almost 6 months post-op from surgery and my restriction has decreased a lot and my hunger has, alas, increased tremendously. It's very rare you'll find patients who lose hunger and cravings forever. I never threw up once, despite the couple of times I truly overate. Bad habits, like eating a lot of carbs, slider snacking, or take out, can come back swiftly if you let them, and derail your weight loss or maintenance. At this point I am, for the most part, running on my own steam and my own self-control. So now that some light has been shed on how difficult the road will be post-surgery (by myself and other posters) you should ask yourself, are you ready to make real change in your life? The biggest test of your preparedness is the pre-op diet. If you fail at it, you are actually failing yourself. You cannot count on your sleeve to change who you are mentally or your habits. It's stomach surgery, not brain surgery. Only you can decide here and now that you will NOT continue down the path of obesity, that you are going to take a stand and make a real commitment. Do I think non-compliance will cause harm if you go ahead with the surgery as planned? Probably not, but that's up to your surgeon who you must consult with. Medically speaking, the pre-op diet benefits patients who have a fatty or enlarged liver by possibly shrinking it a bit or changing the composition. But mostly it's to help you get your head in the game and prepare you for a different way of eating and living. If I, a certifiable food addict can do it, so can you. Your health, well being, and happiness are worth it.

I'm currently in the throes of an awful plateau so I know how you feel. It's so easy to get mad at myself and the scale, and to deprive myself further and further just to see the numbers move down. But there's something to what sofia said, sometimes you need to relax a little, let your body adjust, and maintain for a little while before pushing yourself again. I know it's frustrating, but you've come so far already. You will definitely keep losing if you don't get discouraged and stay good to yourself. Maybe mixing up the exercise and cutting down on carbs will help. That has been helping me up until this point

Hey GrumpyCat! I was sleeved June 12th. I am down 72 lbs total. HW - 260 SW - 253 CW - 188 I lost the first 70 pretty easily, I'll admit. But then it came to a screeching halt. I stalled for 3, almost 4 weeks at 190. I got annoyed so I did a 5 day pouch test (I'm on Day 4). Lost 2 lbs. I'm thinking the rest of this journey is going to be a lot of plateaus with a few fits and spurts in between. I track my food, eat very few carbs, and kick my butt at the gym 6 days a week (high intensity cardio and weight training). You are doing great! Everyone loses at their own pace and as long as it's consistent you have nothing to be worried about. Be proud!

YES!! Thank you for posting. History will vindicate the low carb diet, I firmly believe that. Ketosis is key to substantial weight loss. What this article alludes to but doesn't explicitly get into is just how corrupt our scientific community can be, and government institutions in particular (FDA, NIH). Food industry, the grain industry especially, wields such enormous power to the detriment of the population.

BMI of 35 is categorized as morbidly obese, and I think surgery is a solid option if it's the right choice for you personally. Of course you have "business" to utilize whatever options are out there to lose weight and get healthier. There are lots of folks who get this surgery with a BMI of less than 40. Some insurance companies will cover VSG if you are a 35 BMI or higher with a co-morbidity. Do you have diabetes or sleep apnea? What pre-ops need to understand most of all is VSG is a tool. It can be a very important tool, but it's no magic cure. The sleeve helps me eat a lot less at once, but it doesn't do much to stop me from grazing/snacking all day. I need to stop me from snacking. So you still have to exercise great self-control over your eating especially after a few months post-op. You also need to exercise as much as your body can handle. It gets harder the further out you get. But I lost 72 lbs in about 6 months. Could I have done that without surgery? I highly doubt it. Wishing you the best of luck, whatever you decide.

I still cook on the weekends. You totally can too! Just choose Protein dense recipes that taste really good. I plan out my meals for the week and usually make 2-3 dishes over the weekend that I divide up into individual servings and put them in the fridge or freezer. I've found that planning is what keeps me from snacking. I'm sad to say I do still get hungry and crave trigger foods - I don't think this is something the sleeve can eliminate. They did stomach surgery, not brain surgery, and from what we understand about human physiology, both are involved in hunger and cravings. It's not as voracious as it used to be, and I don't seem to suffer from hypoglycemia as I used to pre-surgery, but self-control is absolutely essential for being successful in the long run.

Hmm interesting. I wonder why, after losing 72 lbs my smile lines have gotten deeper and more numerous. I'm waaaaay too young for Botox

Looking totally awesome lady!!

Lisa's Hope and Chrissy, Wish I had something more constructive to say than I'm so sorry to hear about your complications. What a horrible experience. I hope you find resolution soon. I'll keep both of you in my thoughts and prayers. Much love!

I think they are trying to be nice, rather aggressively it seems. Almost nobody said "you don't need it" to me before I got surgery. But now that the weight loss has slowed and I'm down 70 lbs people are saying "well you can stay as you are - you look great". NO - I'm still obese! BMI not even 30 yet! I still have a ways to go, so I just try and brush that commentary off because I won't be happy until I'm at goal. Don't despair - you're going to lose a bunch of weight and then people will look at you and say to themselves ohh, this was a good decision she made.

Sorry to be a downer but YES it does get harder down the line for just about everyone. But you're already sleeved, yes? So too late to take it back now. I am 5 months out and 70 lbs down. Could I have done that without the sleeve? I sincerely doubt it. I made the right choice for myself and I suspect you did too. During this "honeymoon" phase take advantage of the restriction, but also work on changing your eating habits. Not being able to eat too much in one sitting is half the battle, being able to abstain from eating smaller amounts all day is the other half, and for many, the much harder half. I fight every day to prevent myself from snacking. Thankfully I don't sit down at a meal and eat 1000 calories in a single sitting anymore. I am very grateful for that. The good news is that if you put the necessary effort and compliance into your diet and routine, you will reach your goal. The sleeve absolutely can help you do that, but it won't get you there for you. You CAN do this

Seriously, joining the forums was unwise. It's a recipe for internet warfare.

What a journey you've endured! Glad you have healed and were able to get the sleeve. It's proven to be a safer option, especially in the long run. As Butter said, stalls are normal. You can try switching the food and exercise up a bit, but mostly it's just being patient and trudging along and the scale will start moving down again! I only got a 3 month reprieve from the hunger postop. Now it's back, but not as unmanageable as before. Self-control plays a huge part in my daily life. Wishing you continued success!

You look AWESOME!! Great work, Zen!

For me it was an "AHA" moment. My sleep apnea explained so many things I had been struggling with over the years - forming and keeping my memories, fatigue durng the day, migraines, and a general inability to concentrate on tasks. My CPAP machine wasn't a cure all, but I have been able to alleviate many of the symptoms I suffered for years. Since losing 70 lbs my pressure has decreased, and I'm even on an autopap now. Hopefully soon I won't need it at all. Don't feel down about yourself. This is a treatable condition, and more than likely successful weightloss will eliminate it. Good luck and use your cpap!

Lol! Maybe in about -20 lbs.

An older gentleman who has known me for a few years said I now look like Hedy Lamarr. If only! Soon, soon.