Suko67

Fantastic work on your 32 lb weight loss thus far!! Wow! I suffered from the same "3rd Week, stall". It was 5 days in which my scale sat at 200 lbs! I have lost 25 lbs in total (stall ended today with a 3 lb loss from stall week). That is 1/4 of my total weight-loss goal. I started out at 222 lbs, and intent to be 125 lb again!! That will put me at a BMI of 21 I am 5'4" tall. The incision nearest my belly button is still quite tender, and that is my largest of incisions (I have 6 total... You too?) I have a large hematoma on my left side (intra-abdominal blood clot) that is still very tender and hurts a little too much for me to wear anything that compresses that area. Walking is great! I highly recommend walking as a boost to your endorphins! My mood and outlook on everything is sooo much better since I have been walking at least 2 miles a day since my 2nd week. Today I made it 3 miles on my fast-pace walk, but now I am literally exhausted!! This surgery and first month has been more challenging than I was prepared for, but this challenge has helped me KNOW that there is no way I will ever go back to my former, unhealthy life-style again! Great "meeting" you!! Sent from my iPad using VST

Ahh...Food Funerals. My husband called it pre-apocalypse days for me.

Dallas Curvy Girl: When was your surgery? I think our "dates" are about the same?! Sent from my iPad using VST

You look fantastic! You are an inspiration! Sent from my iPad using VST

I know that a steady regime of daily exercise is one of the greatest daily "gift" we can do for ourselves and our new, healthy lifestyle! I can only walk a quick pace, my insides and incisions are still too sore to jog yet. I am getting a new gym membership on Tuesday because it is getting too hot here (90's F ++) and it makes me very nauseous to work out when's it is that hot outside!! Let's keep up the good work!

Thank you for the supportive comments, Rdoactv! It has helped me to stay positive and very motivated!

Hurray for NSV! With my walking exercise I made it up to 3 miles on my fast-pace walk! And it felt fantastic!! I am three weeks post-op and due to surgery complications, I had a 7-day hospital stay, and I still have a large hematoma on my left side! So three miles may not seem like much of a victory, but for me it's excellent!

Yes!! Yes! Yes!! You look amazing! I can defiantly see the difference your 5 weeks have made! I am 3 weeks post-op, I hope I can make a difference like you have! BTW!! March 28th is my birthday-- I guess it's "your new life birthday now". Great day!! Congratulations!!

I was sleeve 3.5 weeks ago, and I am in a FOUR day stall already I lost 22 lbs in first three weeks, now nothing. I appreciate reading everyone's feedback on the the love-hate relationship I have with my scale. Before this so-too early stall, I viewed my scale as a motivational tool: I would get on it see I lost 1 or 2 pounds--so I would be motivated to do the same thing (even increasing my exercise) daily. You have all given me food for thought ( pardon the pun) about not getting on the scale daily. Thank you ALL

YES!!! I'm only 3.5 weeks post-op, but my sense of smell (especially for nasty smells-bleh) are acutely heightened! AND...things I used to like the taste of (iced tea, coffee --maybe because its been decaf) and anything SWEET or SALTY are extremely unpleasant! I was just wondering WHY myself! I actually re-reading all my pre\post surgery to see if I could find the answer! If I come across something--I'll share

Hi Karen353! We had "our" surgeries a day apart--I was sleeved 4/16/13. Let me know if I can be of any support to you and let me know how things are progressing for you too--if you want to Sent from my iPad using VST

Hello: I has my VSG on April 16th. I work as a Reg. Nurse and my employer will not let return to work until I can "lift" a minimum of 50 lbs! Everything I have read so far does not address at what point I can lift 50 lbs so I can return to work. I am so used to working, I miss it!

So bummed, at my 3 weeks surgeon visit I was informed that they can't clear me to return to work within my DONs parameters for another MONTH!! I also was told I have a large hematoma located in my abdomen and that is slowing my recovery process. Sent from my iPad using VST

Hey There! Congrats on making the choice for a healthy lifestyle as a student nurse because one of the biggest problems we face as floor nurses are ALL the cakes, Cookies, and candy the families of grateful patients give as "thank you's" they give the nursing staff after we treat their loved-ones inpatient. I found this especially to be true during my years on the Mother/Baby Unit!!! That's when I gained the most weight! Also--working NOC shift we nurses often use "food" and that sugar rush to keep us awake during the 12 hour shift! I just know now I'll have to walk through the break room with blinders on so I'm not tempted by the never ending amass of sweets on the table in there!! So since we share the same surgery date --how have you been doing these past three weeks? I had inretractable nausea and emesis that keep me in the hospital for a full week after surgery! I JUST got advanced to puréed diet--and the nausea has come back with a vengeance! So it's back to full liquid diet again--I am so bummed Sent from my iPad using VST

Sorry for the double posts!! I'm still getting used to the workings of the VST! I wanted to report that I met, and surpassed my initial exercise goal for my 3 week "sleeveaniversary". I got in 2, two and a half mile (fast-paced) walks today for a total of approx. 5 miles!!! Yay!! I read about people having an immediate increase in energy shortly after surgery--but I thought it was an urban legend! I used to huff and puff going up a flight of stairs!! Gotta love the endorphins from a good day of exercise!! Sent from my iPad using VST

Laura-Ven!! You are such a wonderful supporter and you share so much with all of us newbies! Thank you, thank you, thank you! I hope to emulate YOU as I get further and further past my post-op (4-16-13)!! Sent from my iPad using VST

Hi Delfina! I'm here in Boise and I was "sleeved" on April 16, 2013. Today, I'm at the 3 week sleeveaniversary! I just returned from seeing Bill (Dr Korn's PA) and he just nixed my thought of returning to work at least for another month! I'm bummed, but I had complications post-op in hospital, and still have complications so I can't compare myself to what I thought my ideal situation "should be." On the positive side, I've lost 22 lbs since the surgery--so thrilled about that I was a lowish BMI for qualifying for the surgery (36 BMI) but I have co-morbid conditions, including sleep apnea. So why I said all this beforehand, is that I know that there are different "pre-op" diet protocols for every, individual case. I can tell you that for me, they had me NPO (nothing by mouth) the entire day before surgery. I had my surgery on a Tuesday, and I could not eat or drink anything after I went to bed on Sunday night. I hope this helps!! Best Wishes for a very successful surgery, and keep in touch on this forum and let us know how you're doing! Sent from my iPad using VST

Hi Guys!! Thank you for all of your feedback! It's been 3 weeks since I was sleeved (to the day) and I have another Dr's appt today. He didn't release me to go back to work last Tuesday, but told me to stay on the Full liquid diet because I had complications that kept me in the hospital for a full week after surgery! My doc seems very conservative in all matters! My hospital HR--especially my DON is requiring that the 50lb lifting req and the solo-CPR req get listed specifically on my medical release back to work! Ugh!! Wish me luck .

Happy Birthday and Congrats! I didn't know we had sleeve "birthdays". But hey!! It sounds like a great idea to me! We must have been sleeved about the same time (April 16 for me) So it's my 3 week birthday today! 3 weeks ago today, I had THE surgery!! I'm celebrating losing 1/4 of my goal weight loss today!! I'm a lowish BMIer I need to lose 80 pounds, I've lost 22.5 lbs as of this morning!! I'm going to Celebrate with two different-2 mile fast paced walks with my husband and my dog !!

Ample DAILY hydration helps skin's elasticity as well! I am a RN with 20+ years of PACU/med surg experience and proper Fluid balance helps post-op recovery in so many ways. As my NUT reminds me.....Remember to sip, sip, sip a minimum of 64 oz a day! I am keeping up that promise to myself to stay well-hydrated! I was sleeved on 4/16/13 and I have made my goal everyday! Crystal Light and unjury unflavored Protein powder is my favorite "mixed drink" now