Suko67

Hello All: It's been a few months since I've been on this forums, but all those who had gone through the VSG before me and gave me such wonderful advise and encouragement--I wanted to say THANK YOU! I am at my 9 month mark post surg, and I have maneuvered through the maze of adopting a whole new relationship with "eating" and healthy lifestyle and I wanted to put myself out there for anyone who would like some encouragement or anyone who has questions about the procedure (positive and negative). According to my surgeon I am in the <10% who have experienced some unwanted effects of the procedure--BUT given even the (at times) struggle with those negative effects--I would do this all over again to LIVE this wonderful life I have now. I have lost 76lbs, started at 222 and I am now 146. From BMI of 39.4 to new BMI 25.2 From size 16 to size 6. I no longer use a CPAP because I no longer have sleep apnea. My back pain is (mostly) gone. I can walk up flights of stairs w/o feeling like I was going to pass out! If anybody out there has had the sleeve or is considering the sleeve--please use me as support! I am still losing weight (I would like to lose 12 lbs more) and I am toning my body up. I've attached a picture from my birthday in 2013 right before my surgery and a picture from Thanksgiving of this year (about 6.5 months post sleeve). I will try to get some more recent pictures taken. . Before . In progress

I am 9 months out, down 76 lbs, almost to my goal (about 12 lbs to go). Emotionally, physically, and spiritually I feel fantastic! I had some major regrets in days following the surgery, but any signs of those passed after the first two weeks. Even though I knew my weight was hindering so many parts of my life (not just outwardly) I had NO idea HOW much better my new healthy lifestyle would change my whole life for the better!! No regrets today at all!!

Wow!! Thank you ALL for the amazing compliments!! I am humbled by ALL the outpouring of supportive comments here!! ???????? I wanted to share my visual success with everyone here, mostly if only to assist in encouragement like I received by seeing many other "Sleevers" "before" and "after" photos when I was still in the early stages of my journey. Thank you all for your continued encouragement! Living my new life with no regrets and new-found dreams of potential!!

Hi Finally Thin: Congratulations on accomplishing your first step in your journey--and I hope you can take solace in knowing that it DOES get better. I can tell you that, myself, 4 days post op I was still NPO (nothing by mouth) and still totally relied on IVs for Fluid in the hospital at 4 days post-op because of the extreme nausea--and it DID get so much better. When my docs finally eased me to Clear Liquids, it was sooo wonderful to "taste again!!" So with my extreme nausea my docs told me that when I advanced my diet per usual, but then became nauseous again--to go back a stage (from full liquid back to clear liquid etc). This really has been useful info. 9 months later. If I eat something that "hurts" I take that food OUT of my diet regime once again. I just realize that even if some sleeved people can eat salad at 3 months post op and be just fine--it's okay that I can't tolerate those rough, raw veggies at 9 months post op. We all respond a bit differently--and that doesn't equate to a better response to the sleeve--we are all different. I am still happy with my sleeve Some foods that help (still) are SF vanilla pudding and SF aloe Vera juice. Hang in there! Thoughts and prayers for your health and healing tummy!

I did have some major regrets in the horrible days immediately post surgery, but I can honestly say that at age 46, (post surg) I felt like I had already lived/experienced the best part of life-and it was going to be just downhill from there !! ;( Now, I feel and believe there is so much more ahead! I have been blessed by NEW Life!! Don't let anyone tell you that VSG is taking the easy way ! Do your research and get support from those around you!! You WILL make the right decision!!

Thank you for the compliment! So, to answer your question, I had some adverse reaction to the contrast dye used (that I had to drink) the day 1 post surg that the docs use to check the new "sleeve" for leaks. Almost immediacy after the radiology procedure was complete, I started throwing up violently. This painful vomiting did not stop until the surgeon put me back NPO, and started a whole IV cocktail mixture of anti-emetics. I continued to be very nauseated with unstable heart rate for next 7 days on full IV and NPO--still with occasional vomiting--ouch--empty, sore new tummy. On the 7th day post surg I could keep some clear liq down., but still very, very nauseated. They finally discharged me from hospital on day 8. My bariactric docs kept me on Clear liquids for next 3 weeks, then slowly could progress to full liq. for another 3 weeks. And so on...very slowly being able to add food. I had a very difficult time keeping anything down. 9 months later, I am still very cautious of texture of what I eat, and I am nauseous after even a drink of Water. My docs are keeping me on Zofran every 8 hours still. Also, hmmm....my bowels don't work at all unless I drink Miralax daily.--if I skip a day of Miralax--I will go for about 3 days w/o "going" and which point I feel even more nauseous. :(

I know when I went to support groups they warned of potential "relationship" issues that come about after one person in the marriage loses so much weight and makes drastic life changes after VSG---I just thought my marriage was strong enough to withstand such things. So it's 4 months to the day and I've lost 75 lbs which puts me smaller than I was when my husband and I first met. I weight 168 lbs at 5'4" and I still want to lose ~ 30 lbs more. My spouse however is about 100 lbs overweight and really hasn't made any changes to his current (rather unhealthy) lifestyle My marriage is strained for reasons I can only assume are related to this change because everything else is status quo. I am frustrated that he is acting very passive-aggressive towards me beyond reasons I can determine. All I can think of is divorce (we have no kids together) because I am tired of living my life this unhappy. I finally can see a positive outlook for my future with health and hopefully happiness. For those of you who want to suggest counseling--been there--done that and my husband continues to blame ALL problems on me. He will not accept his role in any relationship issue. I am seriously thinking of divorce right now--for the first time since my VSG I feel hopeless. Anybody have similar experiences or helpful comments? I would much appreciate it. . . Sent from my iPad using VST

Yay!! I'm from the Northwest and spent a lot if time in Portland. I see some irony in the name "voodoo Donuts". Don't you? Take one tiny bite of the bacon-maple donut at Voodoo for me please

Hello Fellow April 2013 Sleevers! I had previously been using my iPhone VST app to follow the VST Support, but I missed this "Forum" until using my iPad today!! This is the perfect Support Group I had been looking for to share in my journey to health and wellness since my sleeve date of 4/16/13. I am nearly 4 weeks out....how's everyone doing/feeling ? Sent from my iPad using VST

I am 6 weeks post-op and I am addicted to Crystal Light with Unflavored unjury Protein powder!! My favorite (this week) is Raspberry Lemonade. You said you preferred the lemonade varieties--YES! I found that was the flavor that "settled" the best in my very nauseous state post-op while still in the hospital. It was recommended by my NUT who said that the tartness of the lemonade took down the VERY OVERWHELMINGLY sweet taste of EVERYTHING!! Worked very well! Best of luck to you!! Sent from my iPad using VST

Hey there: I was digging around the research and I found this interesting article regarding a 2 year study on the efficacy of VSG on people with BMIs 30-35. I had a BMI of 37 before I got "sleeved" but I had two co morbid conditions that were caused by my obesity. I have UnitedHealth Care and my insurance paid 100%. Here's the article with the study..... http://www.bariatricnews.net/?q=news/11709/sleeve-gastrectomy-low-bmis-“easy-safe-and-benefic” Sent from my iPad using VST

I'm using Palmer's Coco butter Firming Cream....I read a lot of posts previously that said this cream/lotion helps "firming". I just started using it--and it's had helped with external hydration to say the least Sent from my iPad using VST

I am 4 weeks post-op, i have lost 27 lbs--and I hit ONEderland, right after my 3rd week stall (lasted 5 days). I am 5'4" and I need to lose 100 lbs total to get to a BMI of 20. BMI of 20 is where I felt the healthiest. I have 70 lbs to go! It's only been a month, but I feel wonderful and I am quite pleased with my weight loss and my long-considered decision to have this surgery.

Sounds great! I made crab cakes from a recipe from my book, "recipes for after Weight-Loss Surgery". They were made with no flour or corn meal to "bind" them. I have been gluten-free since surgery. I have Lupus--and I think gluten-free eating has helped my joint pain. If anybody's interested in the crab cake recipe, I'll post it but I have not found a recipe in my book as much as I liked your recipe for taco pizza! Sent from my iPad using VST

Hello!! I got sleeved on 4/16/13--barely three weeks post-op and the pounds were really coming off! By two and half weeks I had lost 22lbs! But for the past 3 or 4 days I have not lost an ounce??!! Strangely enough I had increased my exercise to 3 miles a day of fast-pace walking (not missed a day) and I have been increasing gradually my pace and distance. I have followed my diet religiously--making sure to get in enough Protein (between 50 to 60 grams daily), no carbs, no sugar (in any form), and at least 64 oz of Fluid. So I'm discouraged that my weight loss has stalled I have 75lbs left to go and I feel like, at this rate, I'll never lose it. Any suggestions? Thank you all, in advance, for your support and guidance! Sent from my iPad using VST

Hi Bruff: I am happy to report that my 3rd week stall ended after five days and with a three pound loss. I realize that other people choose not to weigh daily, but I DO keep the weight loss in perspective and thanks to all the VST posters who helped me understand that a 3rd week stall is not the end of my "window of opportunity for weight loss" but is normal for many of us. I am still weighing daily--but I do not get too discouraged if I have only lost 4-5 oz or even nothing at all. I feel so much better than I did a month ago (tomorrow will be one full month since my surgery). I have lost 25 lbs, lost 5 inches from my waist, and 5 1/2 inches from my chest. ( those are the only area I re-measured today). This puts me with 1/4 of desired weight loss goal, and it puts below 200 lbs ( I haven't been under 200 lbs in 6 years ). I am 5'4" so I want to lose 75 lbs more to reach my goal weight of 122 lbs, which will put me around a 20.5 BMI-- a healthy, and fit weight for me. So from my recent experience, I say Bruff--hang in there--keep up the healthy eating and exercise and your scale will start to move down once again. I have confidence! Sent from my iPad using VST

The vote is in! My family and I loved this recipe! I used lean ground turkey instead of ground beef. It cooked up fine, and I utilized the paper-towel method to soak up any excess fat that cooked off that you recommended, TapSnap! I have not tried to eat any red meat as of yet since I was "sleeved". I'm still cautious about my tummy... I also added a teaspoon of fresh avocado (with a squeeze of lemon juice) for my "topping" after I melted the cheese in the oven. That was a great treat too! Thank you for posting this recipe, TapSnap! I love recipe sharing

Tap/Snap! I am making this fantastic sounding dish right now! It smells fantastic as this is cooking Thanks so much for sharing this recipe! I will report back how my attempt at this crust-free taco pizza! :)